Christmas Past

Those were heady, evocative times;
ensconced in a large, predominantly-female, matriarchal family,
on occasion, I'd spend Christmas in one house with all of them.
There were plenteous preparations to partake in;
endless chatter, raucous laughter, joyous games.
I loved it all, though usually from my favourite position:
having taken part, I'd invariably find myself curled up in a corner somewhere
with the latest Records book, fun facts or mind puzzles.
While others joked and laughed and played,
I'd frantically try to drink in the atmosphere and somehow preserve it.
So, I'd capture these memories with a borrowed camcorder,
my Canon camera, my pen and my heart.
I still curl up in the corner. And I still see it all.