Christmas Letter

This morning I decided that we should do a family Christmas letter. I figured I'd do it as a poem, just to make things a little more interesting. Here's the result. Enjoy!

-*-

I sit by the window and watch all the snow

And think of a time not too distant ago

When my mom wrote a letter, but also a poem

That gave a brief update of affairs in the home

And thinking of this, I had the ambition

To try and keep up this amusing tradition

Now, I’m not quite as good as my mother at this

So I hope you’ll forgive me if things don’t quite rhyme or keep time

Or fall nicely in line.

But here goes, I will try, if you will not dismiss

The honest attempts of poetic design

To start with I’ll talk about me, and I pray

You’ll forgive this brief egotistical bray

But the truth is that I’ve been doing quite good

In all areas where my interests have stood

From rock climbing, (this year I did five thirteen!)

To philosophy courses and Saint Augustine

Besides this, I play every week in a band

Lead electric guitar is the place where I stand

And as far as career goes, I’m gonna’ be honest

I’m a pretty good dentist, and now have my own office

This state of affairs represents a promotion

And I’ve got to admit, caused elated emotions

In short, things are good, in fact couldn’t be better

So I think it is time to move on in this letter

As for Rachel, who I will always hold dear

It was fun to look back this decennial year

On all of the wonderful times that we’ve had

While at the same time thanking my mom and my dad

For they offered to take all the kids on their own

So that Rachel and I could spend time all alone

At nighttime we stayed in a lakeside chateau

And by day found adventure in North Idaho

I surely got lucky with her as my wife

To have and to hold as we’re dancing through life.

Now I’m changing things up a little bit here

Because as I read this, it sounds to my ear

A bit too much “Seussian,” and I have to admit

That it makes me a little bit tired of it

So I think that I’ll bid the good doctor goodbye

And maybe give William Shakespere a try

So now we can turn back to Rachel again

Upon a new pastime, her fine tastes did alight

The objective, not easy, but worth all the pain

To experience life from the seat of a bike

She rides with a passion unmatched by her foes

With the wind in her hair, her legs turning sore

But ever upward and onward she goes

Racing at times fifty miles, or more

In her career too, she's held high in esteem

And she’s gotten to work in some prominent venues

Because of her skill, opportunities gleam

She interprets her way to Alaska, by cruise

And now on to Evelyn, the eldest of kin

She’s tall for her age, with more wit

She lives in a world of books and of pens

And is smarter than she will admit

She is also an artist, and lives with the aim

To work in a studio when ere’ chance arrives

Art camp even gave her a chance at acclaim

At least among other young children her size

As for Addy, she is second to none

When cuddles are high in demand

And I can be sure that she’ll be the one

When I want to hold somebody’s hand

She’s learning to read and does well in school

With her teachers she’s surely a star

Her shortcomings, few, her faults miniscule

I have no doubt that she’ll go far

As I write I am feeling myself getting tired

And words are escaping my mind

I can’t keep the structure much more that’s required

So I’ll switch to limerickian rhyme

So next up is Jackson, my guy

Who many mistake for small fry

But put him in the game

And watch people exclaim

He’s one to exemplify

‘Cause Jack just knows that he’s good

Confidence runs in his blood

Persistence and grit

Are the traits he transmits

Especially when misunderstood

Basketball is becoming his sport

Even though he’s really quite short

His foot-shuffling trademark

Is the talk of the ballpark

But it doesn’t change skill on the court

This limerick stuff gets old fast

I need to rethink my attack

When it comes to good taste

Robert Frost is a case

Who’s rhyming schemes go unsurpassed

My Maren, little fire child

One day sweet, the next day wild

But she knows how to win me o’er

With nothing but a simple smile

In preschool she has lots of friends

To whom her pleasantness extends

Adult and child alike, it’s true

That age, her loveliness transcends

And finally little Lindsey dear

Who says some words, but not too clear

She walks around the house and then

Lights up the room with childish cheer

And when a soft thing she doth spy

A blanket or pillow standing by

Bends at the hips and plants her face

Her need to cuddle gratified

So that’s a wrap, I won’t rewrite

This poem- I take preemptive right

To call the day, and expedite

The process for a copyright.

On second thought, I’ll be polite

Merry Christmas to all

And to all a good night.