Electronic Christmas Greetings

‘Twas the month before Christmas and all through the land,

Holiday preparations were beginning, the season was at hand.

Most pressing of all (to the mothers at least),

Is obtaining that perfect family photo,

To be mailed North, South, West and East.

The children three were all perfectly dressed,

head to toe in their very best.

Primped and polished and brilliantly clean,

Now a pose and a smile from each is all that we need.

With Mama holding the camera and the kids there in sight,

And Dad at the ready to help with his might.

We prepared ourselves eagerly for certain photographic delight!

Our three little angels, at this holy time of the year,

Representing blessings of the Season, success seemed so near!

When what should happen? The most dreaded of scenes,

The children won’t cooperate, not a smile to be seen.

Our eldest, the firstborn was embodying “Hope”.

By turns he was silly, and then he would mope.

The middle, our princess, was to represent “Peace”.

She was whining and crying until we cried CEASE!

But the baby; our so happy, and tiniest boy,

Had been carefully selected to represent “Joy”.

Nary had a smile crossed his wee, sweet face.

We wondered if “Humbug” shouldn’t be in its place.

Alas, at that point we gave up and called it quits.

We’d had enough of near constant apoplectic fits.

The kids off to their rooms for some quiet time,

The adults near the fire, with a nice glass of wine.

While the pictures aren’t the best, our desire remains,

To wish you all blessings and so we proclaim,

“Hope, Peace, and Joy from our home to yours”,

(And a wish that next year’s card won’t be such a chore!)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

(With great affection for and our deepest apologies to Clement Clarke Moore)

Cards are all in the mail at last, Phew! One should be in a mailbox near you soon!