getting ready

I see the neighbor who plays
santa claus
around the holidays
at the grocery store.
he looks good,
slender from all his nightly
runs.
he has five pies in his basket
and a few gallons
of ice cream.
I nod and say hello
then look down at his
cart. he looks up at me
and smiles.
i'm getting ready, he says.
I know it's only august,
but it's good to be
prepared and look
the part. I stop running
in September. it's always
here before you know it.