Oops, how did that picture get in here?  ^_~ (why it looks like my grandson the little elf) 

 

Holiday Fare
by Gary Tabke

Oh, the drudgery of the holiday fare,
The buying, the spending, the pulling out hair.
The traffic and crowds that are everywhere.
The pushing, the shoving, it makes me swear!

The decorations now covered in dust,
Must bounce back to life with great robust.
Though some are so old I fear they’ll combust,
And yet I will decorate as I know I must.

The tree now tall will glow with light,
Covered with ornaments for Christmas night.
And I’ll gaze at its beauty and behold its sight,
All the while hoping the children won’t fight.

Traditions rebound this time of year,
Their meanings for young not always clear.
But those who are older hold them dear,
And as they lament will often tear.

For when they were children, young and small,
Back in the day before the great mall.
To Santa a letter they would scrawl,
And anxiously wait for their Christmas haul.

But times were hard and things were tight,
And yet at Christmas they remember no blight.
In fact they recall with much delight,
How the simplest of things would excite.

Families gathered the same as today,
All wanting turkey were kept at bay.
And they sang their favorites about snow and a sleigh,
And before the big meal, bowed to pray.

For deep in the heart Christmas glows,
And yet there are those who still oppose.
This is reason enough to conjure prose,
And wrap this up in big bright bows.

For I wish you all the best of life,
Be you child or husband or even wife.
Avoid the seasonal woes and strife,
For we celebrate the birth of life.

That life which came in a manger far,
Found by many under the star.
Born under circumstances most bizarre,
The one, the only, our Savior.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us to all of you!  Thank you for your love, friendship and support this past year.  May love and joy be with all of you this holiday season.  We’ll be back bright-eyed (or bleary-eyed for those of us who party too much) and bushy-tailed after the New Year. 

Cheers!

Karin, Allison, Toni, Laura, Deb, Josie, Deborah, Stephanie, BJ and Allison!!Â