Twas the Night Before

This poem is, as always, written for my husband, Umair, but also for all the other immigrant families waiting and for one special family Umair connected with in Muscat, Oman. Sebastian, and Ophelia, who are also waiting for their daddy to come home for his first Christmas in America!

‘‘Twas the night before …

‘‘Twas the night before …

Twas the night before waiting for our CR1 interview letter to arrive, I hoped for what seems like the billion-trillion millionth night

All my letters had been written to representatives, governors, and even the White House. Heck, I have even written to the Embassy, and you guessed it, that was ignored, too! It wasn’t enough that my mother died and our family needed to be together and that is supposed to matter! Just like every other immigrant family needs too!

I guess that only qualifies if you sneak in the back door illegally. For those of us following the letter of the law, it doesn’t mean a thing! 

And now all of the stockings have been hung by the mantle with care with hopes that year and every year, I hope that my husband will be able to be here.

During this season, my favorite time of year, the world glistens and sparkles, and I’m holding out for care, kindness, and cheer. I’m holding out for a Christmas miracle! One sent by a jolly elf and eight tiny reindeer!

I send my wishes up and out to all the immigrant couples waiting patiently in the line. I pray that each of them will get their CR1 interview on time! We don’t cheat the system but wait with tears that glisten on our cheeks, knowing we won’t get to hold our loved one sweetly as we drift off to sleep!

Or snuggle closely inside our bed. I close my eyes, and he will open his, 

My wish is the same that it has been every year to hold my husband close

It’s all I need

His hand in mine 

My head on his chest 

I love him

For visions of sugar plums dancing delightfully in our heads!

While my husband won’t wear a kerchief , and I won’t wear a cap either 

We are nearly 8000 miles apart. I can only hope that that ripe, jolly old elf hears the wishes of all the immigrant families waiting in the line. Remember each of us are immigrants we did not begin our families journey on this land but came hoping for freedom and dreams to come true!

So, while you sip your eggnog and cocoa and hold your loved one close, remember there are many of us waiting for our wish to come true every year! That someone cut through the paperwork and gets our interviews done and dusted, our passports stamped, and our loved ones home before the cookies are all gone and the hot cocoa is cold! 

Merry Christmas everyone everywhere may all your Christmas wishes be magical and your heart filled with joy! Make the world a little brighter everyday by sharing your love and joy!

I love you, baby!

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