Wednesday, December 21, 2005

'TIS A COUPLE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Something I had printed in the Suburban Journals of St. Louis last week....Things are going to be going pretty fast these next few days...so if I don't get back here before the 25th....MERRY CHRISTMAS AND JOYEUX NOEL AND !FELIZ NAVIDAD Y PROSPERO ANO Y FELICIDAD!….

A CHRISTMAS VISION

Couple days before Christmas
And all through this place
We are anxiously laboring
To finish the race.
The hours of roof-time had not been in vain,
I managed to finish, in spite of the pain.
Those lights were all working, much to my surprise,
I plugged in the last strand and opened my eyes
To see the old homestead go bright in the dark.
I sure didn’t want to be like old buddy Clark.
You know, that guy who strung lights to get ready,
Only to suffer his “dear Cousin Eddie”….
That film is a classic, a holiday fave,
But let me continue with this Yuletide rave.
Kids stockings are hung by our chimney, it’s true…
With increasing grandkids, we’ve got quite a few.
There’s three scattered ‘round, with one more on the way,
And one, who calls home Californ-I-A,
Who’ll experience Christmas with sunshine and sand…
Oh, how I’d love to hold her little hand.
(Still lots to be done, can’t be melancholy,
Gotta deck all them halls with them big boughs of holly.)
But last night I lay sleeping and heard a loud crash,
Could that be a raccoon upsetting the trash?
I glanced at the missus, and she was a-sleeping,
So on down to the hallway window I went peeping.
You could scarcely believe what I saw as I viewed…
“What the heck?” muttered I. “You must be trippin’, dude!”
For out on that lawn in a Mustang bright red
Was an old guy with whiskers and a big old bald head.
He wore a red sweat suit and black hi-top “Chucks”,
And he looked like some weirdo out getting his yucks.
He said not a word, but popped open the trunk,
And the light of the moon, it showed all sorts of junk.
I had to check out what this old guy was into
So up went the blinds as I yanked up the window.
“Hey you, down there, on the yard with the stuff…
Don’t make me come down there…don’t make me get rough!”
The fellow just grinned as he turned up my way,
“Take a chill pill, there, grampa, and do not dismay.
Why, I’m just the man that you need in a pinch.
I’ll fill up your family room….every dang inch.
But I’m too old for chimneys, and it’s too late for playin’,
So give me a hand, here…You hear what I’m sayin’?”
You can guess I was dazed at the sight of this gent,
But downstairs I stumbled, and outdoors I went.
He loaded us up with huge piles of great stuff
Like toys, gifts and clothing…his game was no bluff.
He handled the big things, which was all right with me,
Already the cold was affecting my knee.
When at last as the trunk was just emptied all out,
He gave me a wink, and he let out a shout….
“Woooohoooo!” said the guy as he rose like a star,
And when he was gone…..
He had left me his car!
My best Christmas ever? Not really; no way.
Our best was our first born one past Christmas Day.
But, guess what, this here one was pretty dang fine.
Didn’t cost me no nickel, didn’t cost me one dime.
So if you see me gunnin’ that ‘Twang” through the streets,
With as many can fit in the white leather seats,
You can hear me exclaim as I roll down the way
“Happy Christmas To All…I’ll be back New Years Day!”

5 comments:

Anvilcloud said...

Well, that was kinda fun!

Suzanne said...

Thanks, Tom! What a jewel! You gave me a big ol grin! I give ya 4 stars! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Matthew said...

I commented to you on my site, but I wanted to let you know here that I'd appreciate you linking to my site. Thanks for going to do that. I'll link to your site too, if you don't mind.

Ellen said...

Well-done, Tom! Thanks for pointing me here. :)

Matthew said...

Tom, you asked for a Saint for the year to be chosen for you. Well, the saint that picked Tom is St. John of God !

Congratulations. Let me know of any connections between you and him.