Our angel is weary.
The eggnog’s all gone.
Tree needles are falling
onto unvacuumed parmesan.

The stockings all hung from the chimney last week
are now socks on my feet which are starting to reek.
We were all forced to wear them
when a foreign cold snap
overlapped with a power cut
during a post dinner nap.

With no washer, no dryer, no internet, or light,
we settled in with candles for a long winter’s night.
The kids plundered the cupboards in hot pursuit of
not something trivial, but other board games they’d loved.

MONOPOLY, MOUSE TRAP, SCRABBLE, and CHESS,
RISK and TROUBLE and OPERATION, no less,
including a new one, BOHNANZA (don’t ask –
just play it with people who’re up to the task).

And so added to outbursts of ‘not fair’ and ‘you stink’,
came laughter from jokes told from ’round the kitchen sink.
Soon glasses were filled and raised high in remembrance,
“A toast to all those unable to be present.”

Once midnight had passed, the house powered up anew,
yet not a creature stirred to bid good night or adieu.
No,
we played on,
teasing and joking long into the night,
just not long enough to witness the dawn’s early light.

And now, as I ponder our holiday again,
our first time with new guests (sadly, minus Nick’s Jen),
I feel blessed our four kids and their significant others,
the four dogs, Mr. Man, and the significant mothers
were able to join us, all under one roof,
to share this holiday with three cheers and four woofs.

   ❤ CHEERS ❤

~ Wishing you and yours a healthy, joyous, prosperous 2019 and beyond ~