2011 – MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE HILTS FAMILY, PETERBOROUGH
Is it that time again?
Calendars do not lie!
Time to send an update…
For another year’s gone by!
There’s less to tell, perhaps,
So, this update may be terse;
F.Y.I., that just means brief!
So on to my next verse!
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Blest with friends and family
Both Barb and I, the poet…
Love you all so dearly,
You already surely know it!
December is upon us;
And soon, a brand new year!
Our Christmas wish is simple!
May all troubles disappear!
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Friends, we all are aging;
I’ve guessed your secret want!
And thus, with less news to share
I’ve used a bigger font!
It doesn’t mean less detail;
There will be quite a bit…
Disguised uniquely, once again
By way of rhymes and wit!
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Okay, now, to mention things
In scattered, random fashion!
Music has, with no surprise
Remained somewhat a passion!
The Peterborough Singers are
Top notch, most would agree!
We’ve joined up once again;
Year number 10 for me!
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The notes are often tricky
Yet I’ve come to realize…
The challenge of the music
Is perhaps, what satisfies;
Barb, singing in soprano 2
Has made a few new pals!
Tea parties, on occasion
At a cottage, with the gals!
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The choir flew to England
Once again, but we stayed here.
We had other plans, you see;
A drive out east, this year!
First, a little camping trip:
Eight days up at Quinn Lake!
Our kids took turns, visiting,
When they could get a break!
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Next, we load the camper up
With gear and extra bedding,
Then head off to New Brunswick
To attend our niece’s wedding!
The camper made the trip…
I made only one wrong turn;
“Trust the GPS” say I;
Said Barb “You never learn!”
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With plans to stay several nights
The pop-up served us well!
Bob and Margie joined us
In our portable motel!
On the beach, as prelude,
We played our instruments…
Matt and Aine exchanged vows
With heart-felt eloquence!
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The summer was a standard mix,
Of bugs, sun and rain;
But still, a restful holiday;
So why should we complain?
The lawn, the pool and gardens,
At times, drove me crazy…
I do not miss my summer chores:
But Barb still misses Daisy.
.
Daisy was a faithful friend
Not easy to forget!
I predict that soon, perhaps
We’ll find another pet!
Thinking back to early spring,
Barb seemed a little down!
The house was even emptier
When Clara moved uptown!
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Clara’s day is often filled;
Her skill is in demand;
When a song needs harmony
She’s there to lend a hand!
When asked to play and sing…
Seems Clara can’t say ‘No’
Despite the pay, or lack of it,
She’ll often steal the show!
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The choir she created, named
“For The Love Of Singing”,
Continues to be nurtured
With the passion Clara’s bringing!
Several events this year
Give purpose to the gang;
Clara played her keyboard and
The group, just mostly, sang!
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Her job at ‘Joanne’s Place’
Helps to pay the bills
But singing and composing
Is how she gets her thrills!
A Musical was planned
And Clara was approached…
For “Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels”
She became the music coach!
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Clara shares a place with Erin:
She has several cats!
Phenias, that’s Clara’s dog,
Seems okay with that!
This is in addition to…
Another pet… Good Lord!
It’s Katherine’s cat, Darcy,
Who gets free room & board!
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So to Kat, now, I move on
And tell of what we know,
Including her adventures
With Ryan… that’s her beau!
As far as we can tell,
Plans remain on track;
Ryan’s in New Zealand,
But soon he will be back!
.
His Visa’s been approved;
Now, with a bit of luck…
Ryan, down the road,
Will become a proud Canuck!
Marriage was discussed,
Before he went away…
I have no updates, so, on that
There’s nothing more to say!
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Ryan takes part every year…
A moustache for “Movember”;
Most men excel, but Ryan? Well,
Kat’s glad it’s now December!
He’s working at a home for men
Where special care’s arranged.
Ryan job; sometimes a meal;
Sometimes a diaper change!
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Katherine is still employed
At teaching French Immersion;
As well, she runs the choir….
It’s a little-kiddies version!
She likes the school and her class!
The Grade 2 kids are cute!
Presently, just one drawback
Is her painful, slow commute!
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Kat’s rooming with a friend …
At a house in Richmond Hill,
She needs to find her own place soon;
We have no doubt, she will!
Regarding all 3 sisters,
Now Kat wants you to know,
They’re working hard to formulate,
A brand-new children’s show!
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Angela and Clara,
Plus Kat and maybe Ryan,
Want to have success with this.
They pledge to keep on tryin’!
In any case we wish them well
And hope they do succeed:
For children’s entertainers
There will always be a need!
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Now to Angela, still surviving
In Toronto’s pace!
Her music needs a venue
And Toronto seems the place!
There’s one drawback, Angie states
Or should I say she grumbles…
Cycling over streetcar tracks!
She’s had several tumbles!
.
Her bike may take a beating,
But Angie is okay…
And travel still is possible,
By bus or by subway!
She works most days, at MEC,
Selling sporting goods,
Like tents, bikes, canoes…
Or sleeping bags with hoods!
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Angela, has taken on
Five Students, teaching voice!
Plus, she likes the attitude
They come to her by choice!
Angie’s other pastime,
Keeps her schedule tight;
Her band is in demand,
They play every Monday night!
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It was in the summer past,
The band was featured well,
At the famous, Mariposa…
Folk Music Festival!
Barb and I attended!
We were thoroughly impressed!
The atmosphere was filled
With musicians at their best!
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Now perhaps you will recall
The name of Angie’s band;
It’s the ‘Rucksack Willies’
With a new CD, as planned!
Before I end this update,
I’ll save room for a link
To Angie’s current Website!
You can browse it there I think!
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A trip was planned, recently
And Angie is excited!
A Cayman Islands Christmas!
She’s thrilled to be invited!
Her Passport had expired
But the updating was quick.
She’s grateful to the family
Of her boyfriend, Nick!
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In case you haven’t noticed yet
I ought to make it clear;
The children aren’t in order;
I’ve mixed it up this year.
Next, I’ll speak of James,
Who is eldest of the four!
Now James and Jocelyne,
Send happy news once more.
.
We’re thrilled to say the least!
Emile had just turned Two!
On June the twenty-second,
Enter Grandson number two!
Yes, a second little boy;
He’s named “Olivier”…
NOT “Oliver”, it’s French, so
I-E-R sounds like ‘eh’!
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They had a home birth, sitting up,
James helping caught the baby!
Would they do it that way next time?
A ‘definite’ to ‘maybe’!
With family now growing
They’re doing what they can,
More room for gear required,
So they buy a mini-van!
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James, took leave of absence
For his school was quite far,
He works close to home, now
Half an hour by car!
The job is only temporary,
Still he does his thing,
Teaching kids on instruments,
And others, how to sing!
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Barb has just as many students
As she did last year;
Including a beginner’s class.
They’re catching on, I hear!
With all the prep and effort,
Sometimes with little gain,
On occasion I’m surprised
Barb hasn’t gone insane!
.
She enjoys the ‘Y’ a lot,
And swims 3 times a week;
Barb might say I’m bragging
But she has a great physique!
Her syncro class complains,
The water is too cold?
And shouldn’t men, in Speedos,
appear not quite so old?
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Recently Barb had a date
With the Syncro girls,
And if my wife had had some,
She would have worn her pearls.
They came to pick her up,
In a stretchy limousine;
With room for twenty people
It’s the longest one I’ve seen!
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Often we have family stay since
We have room to spare,
Also, we’ll bring Gladys home
Treating her with care,
At tender age of 91
Some days she’s quite weak.
Stills, she sweetly smiles when
Barb visits, twice a week!
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Time to wrap this up, I guess.
The column is too small!
Have a happy Christmas,
And Blessings on you all!
rwhilts 