Christmas Shopping

Diamond as Big as the Ritz

By: Charles Giuliano - Dec 20, 2014

Christmas Shopping

Mom started in August
Stashing away
Dad waited until the last minute
Took us to the mall at Chestnut Hill
In the 1950s quite a marvel
All those downtown stores
In the burbs
Huge parking lots
We advised
Ostrich leather purse one year
Solitaire
Diamond as big as the Ritz
The next
The engagement ring she never had
Married in a rush
Great Depression
Dad got cash at the bank
Stack of red envelopes
A case of scotch
In Holiday boxes
Christmas morning
All Mom’s presents
From Santa actually
They were up all night in the basement
Banging away assembling toys
He drove me to the hospital
Picked up huge cooked turkey
Thelma’s famous pies
Then like a paper route
Drove around to his feeders
The G.P.’s
Handed me a bottle and envelope
Knock on that door
Tell them this is from Dr. Giuliano
Men in undershorts and bathrobes
Glanced out at the Caddy
Waves and smiles
The spirit of giving
Strange lessons