The Christmas Chimes ~ Erma Bombeck ~ Living Each Day

Everything is in readiness.

The tree is trimmed. The cards taped to the door frame. The
boxes stacked in glittering disarray under the tree.

Why don't I hear the chimes?

Remember the small boy who made the chimes ring in a
fictional story years ago?

As the legend went, the chimes would not ring unless a gift of
love was placed on the altar.

Kings and men of great wealth placed untold jewels there, but
year after year the church remained silent.

Then one Christmas Eve, a small child in a tattered coat made
his way down the aisle, and without anyone noticing he took off
his coat and placed it on the altar.

The chimes rang out joyously throughout the land to mark the
unselfish giving of a small boy.

***

I used to hear the chimes.

I heard them the year I got a shoe box that contained two
baseball cards and the gum was still with them.

I heard them the Christmas they all got together and
cleaned the garage.

They're gone, aren't they? The years of the lace doilies
fashioned into snowflakes...the hands traced in plaster of
paris...the Christmas trees of pipe cleaners...the thread
spools that held small candles. They're gone.

The childish decision of when to break the ceramic piggy bank
with a hammer to spring the 59 cents is not resolved by a credit card.

The muted thump of pajama-covered feet padding down the
stairs to tuck her homemade crumb scrapers beneath the tree
has given way to pantyhose and fashion boots to the knee.

It's be a good Christmas. We'll eat too much. Make a mess in
the living room. Throw the warranties into the fire by mistake.

Drive the dog crazy taping bows to his tail. Return cookies to
the plate with a bite out of them. Listen to Christmas music.

But Lord...what I would give to bend low and receive a gift of
toothpicks and library paste and hear the chimes just one more time!

***

Written by Erma Bombeck

Midi playing ~ "Ring the Bells"
Source ~ Joyful Noise Music
Used with permission