Party

Starting slowly
I eat the snacks before the guests. Indulge in root beer and vegetables
With onion dip, they don't come at first I joke
What a party, we have no guests
And then the friends come
In from the rain and darkness outside
Stamping boots and shaking out clothes
Handing over treats. Bottles of wine we may never use.
Slowly the party quickens, colors heighten and the Christmas tree glows
Small children adults teens and babies
Crowded into a happy home
Clean for tonight
Lights in every window and laughs at every turn
Food and food and food
Filling the bellies, too fast for me
Dishes left untouched because I was already stuffed
Soda, a rare dose of sugar
Mixed with happiness is intoxicating
The lights dance and friends giggle
My laughs sound loud and crazy
I cackle and fill up my heart with a golden syrup
Feeling simply wonderful
Later I will crash
Sagging against my bed and attempting to find humor
At the jokes that were so funny
An hour ago
Eyelids drooping, head throbbing from the soda and the cupcake
Remembering the party
In a haze of cheeriness