For Drea - my dear friend, and my wonderful partner in her fictional comedic incarnations.... Wrote this after our conversation tonight, a gift for you.

Saw my old longing in the mirror tonight
The night was lonely with my love away
I stood and stared at the image in my mind
And I reached to touch her thru the glass

She looked back at me with a sad smile
But then her eyes found that they could laugh
She pointed at my thinning hair and the beard upon my face
And we laughed until we cried

I got the package hiding on my armoire shelf
I got dressed in my favorite clothes
I stood there lost in my embarrassment
As I saw the reflection in the glass

I went downstairs and poured some wine
I sat talking to the image in the bar mirror
And wished my lover could see me now
And accept this part of me

We drank a toast to Acceptance
We drank a toast to life
We tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But really did not know how

My lover tells me she married her a man
She tells me that she loves my hairy chest
She would have liked to tell me to be that man
But she hates to see me cry

I told her that I would always be here for her
And that I would always be her man
But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw
Doubt or understanding

She said she found my hidden clothes
And that I have decent taste
I thanked her for the compliment
and offered to let her share

We drank a toast to Acceptance
We drank a toast to life
We tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But really did not know how

We drank a toast to Acceptance
We drank a toast to time
Reveling, in our eloquence
With my "Auld Longing"

The wine was empty and my heart was low
And I was running out of time
My image blew a kiss to me as I got changed
And I watched her fade away

And in that moment she was locked away
And I felt that old familiar pain
But then a light glimmered as I realized,
My lover had said it would be okay.

To the music of "Same Auld Lang Syne"
By Dan Fogelburg

Drea --- I hope you like your gift
Hugs, always
Kristy