Silent Apple Thoughts
Just a moment ago, as I was satisfying my daily fruit craving with the last apple within our humble abode, I thought about the silence.
It's finals week and I haven't been bothered in any way while I've been studying. That's something to be grateful for, I guess. No brothers wrestling in the room, no TV in the background, no crying sisters, no neighbors ringing your doorbell to tell you to keep it down. In fact, it's so quiet here that if you try to listen, all you'll hear is the constant ticking of the clock, the humming of the refrigerator, a siren and a dog howling in the distance, someone laughing, the neighbor's baby gurgling, and the windchimes by the window.
Thing is, during Christmas time, when you begin to feel the excitement in that crisp, cold air, this silence doesn't feel right. It feels empty.
So, for a moment, as I ate my apple, I imagined the doorbell ring. I imagined laughter. I imagined all my siblings from the States happily running up the stairs to greet me with smiles and songs and hugs and kisses. They even had some imaginary snow on their imaginary coats. I imagined everyone I've been missing for a year coming back.
..and for that moment, I smiled.
My apple is finished and silence reigns again. But before I leave, I'd just like to say that those of you who are lucky enough to actually BE with your family in every tangible way this Christmas have so much to be grateful for and I envy you. My family-filled Christmas only exists in my silent apple thoughts. Yours is REAL. May you have a merry one. :)
It's finals week and I haven't been bothered in any way while I've been studying. That's something to be grateful for, I guess. No brothers wrestling in the room, no TV in the background, no crying sisters, no neighbors ringing your doorbell to tell you to keep it down. In fact, it's so quiet here that if you try to listen, all you'll hear is the constant ticking of the clock, the humming of the refrigerator, a siren and a dog howling in the distance, someone laughing, the neighbor's baby gurgling, and the windchimes by the window.
Thing is, during Christmas time, when you begin to feel the excitement in that crisp, cold air, this silence doesn't feel right. It feels empty.
So, for a moment, as I ate my apple, I imagined the doorbell ring. I imagined laughter. I imagined all my siblings from the States happily running up the stairs to greet me with smiles and songs and hugs and kisses. They even had some imaginary snow on their imaginary coats. I imagined everyone I've been missing for a year coming back.
..and for that moment, I smiled.
My apple is finished and silence reigns again. But before I leave, I'd just like to say that those of you who are lucky enough to actually BE with your family in every tangible way this Christmas have so much to be grateful for and I envy you. My family-filled Christmas only exists in my silent apple thoughts. Yours is REAL. May you have a merry one. :)