Small Town Christmas

Every year, the little town down the road

from our little town

has a 

Christmas celebration. 

The thoroughfare is closed off

and everybody comes out

to walk down Main Street

singing carols.

When the procession gets to the center of town

(marked by the town's only 4-way stop), 

a great cheer rises into the air

and all the lights of Main Street

come on at the same time.

                           

All the shoppes are open.

People stroll up and down the sidewalks

happy and sharing jokes and treats.

After the "parade", the highlight of the evening,

for Luken anyway,

is the "sleigh" ride.

There is a warming fire near the street and people line up

near it to wait their turn. 

The wagons have seats of hay covered in old quilts

and are decorated with bells and lights.

Beautiful Clydesdale horses pull the wagons. 

The same pairs of horses each year. 

They are gentle and slow and warm

And all decked out in their finest yokes

with bows and lights and bells. 

This year, it was cold.  

And windy.

Friendly strangers snuggled together under the quilts, 

singing carols.

In spite of the cold and wind and snow,

we stood in line twice

and enjoyed two

hay rides. 

We all had a blast!

Can't wait to do it again next year. 

hbk