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‘Twas the day after New Years

And out on the deck

The thermometer must have broken

“Now what the heck???”

I picked up my trusty electronic phone

And there what I saw chilled me to the bone

And there what I saw what I couldn’t have seen

The thermometer read MINUS 15

The snow was piled high out there on the drive

And I thought this must be the most terrible dread

And, when I woke and found, I was really alive

I thought I might be better off dead

Closed the blind on the window and got back into bed

And pulled the covers up over my head

 Snow Queen, Frost Maiden, Old Man Winter, how did they dare

Visit my world with such outlandish nightmare

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Ah yes, my friends, the “polar vortex”, “El Nino”, and “La Nina” have all gathered to party with us this winter…, and from the looks of things they intend to stay for a while.  Here at the southern tip of Lake Michigan we haven’t seen a temp even near 20 degrees (above, that is) for nearly 3 weeks, and snow nearly every day in amounts more than is being forecast.  To conclude this little New Years rant I leave you with only one little question…..

What ever happened to Global Warming ?????

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As we open the Book of Years to 2018.., to a new page.., to a new chapter…

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May all of your roads be downhill

May your blessings be as many as the stars in the heavens

May you always have enough

May your heart always be too full of love for troubles to enter, 

May your soul be too full of peace to harbor bitterness or hate

…And may the sun always shine on your dreams.

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These are my wishes for you for this New Year…, and forever, my friends

May they all come true. 

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Peace and Love

Paul

Come, walk with me a while

Let’s share some time

If you favor me a smile

Just maybe I’ll offer you a rhyme.

It’s quiet, peaceful here

Let’s sit and take a rest

Forget the rush, think Christmas cheer

Savor this time, the evening’s best.

Forget the chaotic scenes back there.

A moment, I’ll brush the snow from your hair,

Let’s wander farther. The spirit’s in the air

And the happiness in knowing that you care.

Just a moment away from the Christmas crush

A moment stolen from the hurry and the rush

Give yourself that gift.  You don’t have to wait.

Do it now….., just in case Santa’s late.

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Good Night Everyone !

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‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring…, except one little gray mouse

The dog asleep on a chair by the fire

Soon joined by the cat, when she chose to retire

Humans all sleeping tucked tight in their beds

Dreams about Christmas danced ’round in their heads

He scouted the house from his spot by the broom

Making sure that all was safe in the warm, quiet room

He scampered ‘cross the room, feeling happy and free

Around past the furniture and he ran up the tree

Where from limb to limb popcorn garlands were strung

And from it, well spaced, small cookies were hung

Up the tree, to a limb, ever higher he scampered

Crunching and munching and feeling well pampered

Then from a room up above he heard a noise

And thought that it might be one of the boys

Sneaking down the stairs quiet and quick

Hoping to catch a brief glimpse of St. Nick

Down from the tree and across the room

He scampered to his hiding place behind the broom

All was quiet as he went back to his hole

and dropped the armful of popcorn safe in his bowl

He crawled into the matchbox that served as his bed

Pulling the covers up over his head

Then later that night, though he didn’t have proof

He thought he heard sleigh bells high up on the roof

Next morning what a wonderful sight did he see

But piles of presents there under the tree

And a box full of popcorn and cookies and cheese

The little mouse smiled as big as you please

For Santa had come to the little green house

And left a Christmas gift for the little gray mouse.

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Good Night Everyone

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Some of you may recognize this.  It’s an annual tradition of mine.  It’s to honor the memory of a time precious to me, and a brief part of my life shared with a beautiful young woman who chose to share her love with me.

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At the beginning of December
Conversations turned to snow
It was always in her questions
Wherever we would go
I promised I would take her
So that finally she would know
But angels came to take her home
And she never saw the snow.
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As the chill of winter settles on the land and brings gray clouds the horizon, memories of another December come to mind and I feel a presence, and I hear a soft whisper, “Don’t fret dearest.  I’ve been with you all this time, every day of every year…, and, yes darlin’, even in the snow”.  A quick caress and she is gone again. Christmas…., a time we were, sadly, never to be able to share with each other.
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In memory of Gayle Marie
December 10, 1962 Heaven gained another angel…, and another star shone brightly in the night sky…., 55 years and 6 days ago.
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and

Merry Christmas

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The room is dim.  Outdoors it is chill and damp. Steely gray clouds have eclipsed the light.

A seeming constant wind whips the trees, stripping them of their foliage until, at last, all

that is left is spectral limbs and branches.  Long since faded blossoms now drop from the

frozen and frost laden stems.  Now come the days of frigid rains, often spiced with a

mixture of sleet or snow, often both.  The sun and its warmth have retreated to a safe

haven in the south, not to return for months to come.  The sun will return infrequently

when threatened by nature’s wrath, but warmth refuses to accompany it.

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Just think, folks, it’s not even winter yet and I’m already this depressed !!!!!

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There’s a coolness

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In the breeze

As leaves shower

From the trees.

Days grow short and

Nights grow long

As Autumn sings 

September’s Song.

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