This California Christmas

I thought there’d be one more Christmas 
Below the foggy redwood line
In the temperate golden sunlight 
Of California’s winter time 

But life had other plans for me
And so the next I knew 
My life was packed in boxes tight
And northward bound I flew

Here the winter skies are gray
The hush of snow abounds 
No California winter sun
Shines down upon this ground 

The life I’d come to know so well
The sea salt and rolling fog
The Bay and golden foothills 
Now grace this monologue 

This Christmas in our new home
Amongst the peaks and pines 
Finds my tiny family brood
Building new and joyful lives 

Those California Christmases
With lit palm trees in lines
Painted purple sunsets
Now only in my mind

Here night descends at 4PM
We tuck in nice and warm
The PNW slows life down
Outside my new front door

More time to talk about our days
New adventures we began
New traditions being created
With new family and friends 

Another California Christmas 
Has rolled around again
I reflect upon it fondly 
As my new chapter begins 

-gws