photo courtesy of infandum
There is that magic hour on Christmas morning, when the world goes silent.
Ever since I was a kid I noticed it. Even when I was up before my parents, itching to tear in to that large box under the tree that I had no clue as to what it was. There was always a moment or two...sometimes minutes, sometimes hours...where all was quiet. I always respected that silence and even though I often broke down quickly and ran into my parents bedroom to force them out of bed so that I could play with my new toys, I always took a minute or two to enjoy the quiet and stare at the tree. As an adult, I have become even more aware of it. Right now, my wife is asleep and I just came inside from sitting in the crisp morning air with a cup of coffee. My neighborhood is quiet. Sure, there was the occasional dog bark, bird tweet, or squirrel jumping from tree to tree, but I didn't hear a human sound. I didn't hear cars, TVs, radios, or even voices. All is quiet. Kids all over San Antonio are sitting by the tree and unwrapping their gifts, some are still asleep. No matter what they're doing, they're not outside...yet. Soon (by my estimates it usually starts around 10AM) a kid will ride down the street on his new bike. A group of kids will gather to see someone play with their new remote controlled car in the driveway. Whatever it is, they will begin to congregate in small groups outside their homes and play with the new toys. Some will sit inside with their new video games, but they will holler with delight when they play with it. Families will feel the effects of the morning coffee and start making preparations for their meal. Pots will clang and showers will run. Cars will start to head to the local convenience store to get the items that they forgot in the mad dash through the HEB last night (I was there twice). Things will begin to happen. But for now, its quiet. After I hit send, I will refill my coffee and rejoin the silence on my deck out back. I will soak it all in, itching to go wake my wife up to see what's in that box. I will resist and enjoy the quiet.
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