“ANTICIPATION IS TURNING ON THE RADIO
AND HEARING THERE’S A CHANCE OF SNOW,
OR BETTER YET, A CHANCE OF A SNOW DAY.
IT’S THAT FEELING IN YOUR HANDS AS YOU UNWRAP
A GIFT FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS YOU REALLY WELL.
AND IT’S THE THRILLING CALM THAT COMES OVER YOU
JUST AFTER YOU THINK OF THE PERFECT GIFTS FOR
PEOPLE YOU ADORE: ALREADY PICTURING HOW THEIR
EYES MIGHT LIGHT UP WHEN THEY SEE THEM.
IT’S-A STIRRING, EXPECTANT FEELING THAT CAN SHOW
UP BECKONED BY THE SIMPLEST THINGS. IT’S TASTE-
TESTING THE ICING AS AN ACT OF PATIENCE WHILE
THE CINNAMON ROLLS SLOWLY BAKE IN THE OVEN. IT’S
THE ALREADY WARMING SCENT OF KINDLING IN THE
FIREPLACE JUST BEFORE IT BURSTS INTO
A GLOW. ANTICIPATION IS THE FEELING OF HOPEFUL
EXPECTATION, BELIEVING IN THE MAGIC
OF WHAT HAS BEEN AND WHAT MIGHT BE AGAIN,
THIS WE KNOW TO BE TRUE:

there is wonder in the waiting...
”