Hope. Cherish.

Hope.
To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment.

Cherish.
Cherish suggests regarding or treating something as an object of affection or as valuable.

Today was unusual. I helped out a friend that is struggling in her life. She needed a 'pick me up' in the worst way.
On my way to her house I stopped and at a place called Crazy Franks [a cheap store something on the line of a Dollar Store] and picked up a couple of toys for her two Corgis that keep her company.
I figured she'd love those gifts, as she is an animal person.

It lit up her day.
It was getting late in the day and I asked if I could help her with her chores. She was surprised but pleased as no one usually helped her even when her husband was around.

The wind was bitterly cold. I carried warmed 'mash' for her horses in buckets, poured fresh water in the stall buckets, and helped carry hay.
In the meantime the sky put on a pastel display of colors, I whipped my old digital pocket camera out and took a photo of a tree in her yard.

*Oh that yard is so ugly,* she said.
*Stop a moment and look at the pastel sky,* I replied, hefting the bucket I'd set down.
She stood a second, looked up against the raw wind and said.

*Why yes it is.*

We finished chores and I said my goodbyes to her dogs and to her; I was feeling a trifle guilty knowing that she was spending this bone chilling night alone. I cautioned her to please call me at ANY hour. She promised and then gave me a huge hug.

I left as the sun dipped below the horizon and hustled home to make supper and eat it with my husband and dog, and enjoy a quiet evening together. I reflected on how lucky I was.

I pulled up to the mail box and opened it up. With chilled fingers I grabbed the mail and sorted it as I tossed it into the passenger seat.
One envelope was hand written. Yes, a lot of Christmas Wishes are hand addressed. But I had recognized this handwriting.
It belonged to my mother.

Hope and Cherish held in my hand. In an unopened envelope.
I regarded it for a long time before putting the car back into drive and heading down the long driveway.

Hope and Cherish indeed.
...and Wishes can come true.
This I know because I believe...

~In the moments of our lives
Both the joyous and the tragic
If the truth is to be told
We are all pursuing magic~
[Trans-Siberian Orchestra Poetry]