Alaska week

home from a week’s cruise

with ten of the family

so seldom together

Alaska may never

heard such laughter

and joyful catching-up

white elephant laughter

grandma watches from the corner

of the couch the generations

choosing, stealing, re-choosing

white elephant gifts, laughing

as the lucky numbers first drawn

get to choose again among

the extras wrapped for guests

who did not come

being in the midst of such love and joy

is worth all the years of struggle

laughing family

laughter of cousins now distant

in location but close in caring

the warmth of siblings’ support

and knowing each other’s strength

and pain

a lunch together, rare

a sharing of love, thankfully, joyous