2023 – MERRY  CHRISTMAS FROM  PETERBOROUGH

*[want a challenge?… singable to “Early One Morning”]

Now that twenty-twenty three,
Has it’s place in history,
I shall try my utter best to tell you how it was…
Days were often filled with glee…
Hanging out with family,
Sometimes for a birthday meal, or sometimes just because!

If my details were cuisine…
Sour, sweet or in between,
Happy news is on the menu with a side of sad!
Serving up a cheerful dish,
Truly is our deep-down wish,
And, of course when finished, there’s libations to be had!

As I now create each verse,
Details may seem in reverse.
Starting off, I’ll mention how we wrapped up our November.
We sang to a sell-out crowd,
Yes, the “forte” stuff was loud…
Choir, Brass and Organ gave a concert to remember!

If there’s one thing we have found…
We love having friends around;
Peterborough Singers are a gift, we’ll both attest.
With transcending properties,
Singing helps, in times like these…
Briefly we escape the hate, the wars and all the rest!

Barb and I have managed fine,
Covid fears now in decline…
Time to get out in the world and mingle cautiously!
Off to Ottawa we went…
For an overdue event…
Birthday party, 3 years late, for Pat’s year “seventy”!

Recently, Barb’s sister Pat,
Lost her Barry, just like that!
When we heard of it, we felt there must be some mistake!
Change is good, so we’ve been told…
Often change is uncontrolled…
When we lose a loved one, it’s a bitter pill to take.

That same week, in disbelief,
We received news laced with grief…
Sadly, Kate, Barb’s sister lost her partner, sweet Josine
Hearts are tugged but not destroyed…
Happy memories fill the void!
Every healing thought we send has love squished in between!

Here at home there’s much to say,
I’ll proceed if that’s okay…
Many times, we’ve said before, our families come first!
Last year I did something strange…
Listed all… (there’s been no change).
Now some solid info, with some humour interspersed.

Teaching, now, officially… Clara holds a new degree,
Now that summer courses for the Waldorf School are through.
Workloads may, with time, adjust…
Earnings, have improved, we trust,
She enjoys her work immensely, and the Waldorf crew!

On that same note, we are seeing…
Erin loves her RMT-ing,
She has found a spa which fits her schedule quite nicely!
Sable Bear, so cute and smart, Has that smile; she melts the heart!
Here’s a trio who display a “happy life” precisely!

When a visit’s over due,
Here’s a blessing to be true,
Dropping in is doable, it’s always worth the drive.
One thing we both missed this year…
Was to host the whole gang here,
Such a gathering was something we could not contrive!

Recently we chose to go,
To Toronto, for a show!
Elmer Isler Singer’s, for our anniversary!
Choral works with harp and cello,
Offered songs, precise and mellow,
On this date we celebrate year number “forty-three”!

How is Angie?, you may ask,
I’ll embark upon the task…
To describe their day to day, both simply and concisely!
She and Alex, and Levi…
Have such joy, and we know why…
Music is the glue that holds the gang together nicely!

Angie teaches, and does shows,
Alex plays at some of those…
Often one will do a gig, the other tends their tot.
Levi’s growing fast, somehow,
Slightly passing Sable now,
FaceTime is a given, they’re in touch with us a lot!

August found us at the camp,
Eight days warm and two days damp…
I’ve enjoyed the task of keeping track with weather apps!
We endured each trailer pest…
Mouse poop and a hornet’s nest…
Such things didn’t sway us from the daily swims or naps!

In July, out east we went,
For a major arts event…
We would take our time and do some camping on the way!
Barb would meet her sisters there,
It was such a grand affair…
In St John, Barb’s sister Mary’s art was on display!

Helen, that’s Barb’s sister too,
Hosted us the whole week through…
Ray and Mary, Barb and I and Luna tagged along!
Patrick cooked up mighty meals…
I gained weight through these ordeals,
I said “let’s stay longer “: Barb replied “that would be wrong!

Coming home we chose to trek…
Through New Brunswick and Quebec
Lovely places were discovered: we’d go there again!
We had planned to take it slow…
With our pop-up home in tow,
And of course, we had to deal with thunderstorms and rain!

Back in June, we kept our cool,
Sometimes shade but mostly pool…
It was soon apparent that we had a major leak!
I explored the cause and found…
Pipes were broken underground,
I called up my pool guy, he repaired it that same week!

For some time with dad and mom,…
Kat and Ryan often come.
We enjoy the visits; there are times we share a meal!
It’s the sort of thing we need…
Happy times these are, indeed,
Having them in town is great; in fact it’s quite ideal!

Early summer, after school…
They would come to use the pool…
Even if we were away, we really would not mind!
And if we were out of town…
They would happily come down,
Plants and gardens tended to, and details of that kind!

Sometimes we would pick a day…
We would steal their kids away…
William and his sister Zoe helped with Luna’s walks!
Then with little hesitation,
And with Nana’s consultation,
They would form an awesome fort with just an empty box!

Here is news that should be told…
James has moved; their house is sold…
They now live near Midland, on the edge of Georgian Bay!
With conditions all approved,
They, to Tiny township moved…
They have settled in! Their house a home in every way!

With the move and new location,
Tweaks to some routines were taken…
Earlier I mentioned change; I’ll mention some below
Maybe thanks to COVID’s cooling,
They no longer do home-schooling …
To the nearby schools, in French, by bus the children go!

Eloise , Olivier…
And Emile head off each day…
All reports are good and happily they’ve made new friends.
Rarely, I’m just realizing…
Jocelyne, will go “supplying “,
Plus runs choir at the school which Eloise attends!

James, I must admit is brave;
Gave his former school a wave…
Now, it’s Midland’s St. Theresa, where he is on staff!
He’s okay with teaching art…
But here’s the “not-music” part…
French is what he’s doing for, at least, the year’s first half!

As for music, we continue…
No escape when music’s in you!
Barb remains a flute ensemble member on occasion!
They are called the “Wild Wind”…
When they blow they truly blend…
Skilled musicians, twelve or so, perform with dedication!

Back somewhere near Valentines
We were memorizing lines…
For our Singers concert, called Big Bands: Back In The Swing.
When I dwell upon what’s fun
Music comes up Number One…
This marks twenty-three years with the Singer’s; it’s my thing!

Now I shall, before concluding,
Add some details worth including…
We’ve avoided hospitals and surgeries this year!
Aches and pains, may come and go…
Thankfully there’s physio,
And the swimming, Barb has said, makes tension disappear!

You, our friends, bring healing too…
We can sense your “I love you”…
I can’t name you all, but we return the sentiment!
With that said, you know I’ve tried…
Arms and hearts are opened wide…
Sending warm embraces, with this note is our intent!

……..

If this year’s update’s amused you…

Hopefully I’ve not confused you…

Notice how I never, ever mention politics.

With the world’s aggressive trend,

There are hurts we cannot mend…

This is simple, humble, day-to-day at Barb’s and Rick’s!

—–

Time to end, so end I must.

All is well with you, we trust…

May the times I’ve shared in rhymes, bring joy to you today.

Merry Christmas, all of you…

And a happy New Years too…

Offered now, a prayerful wish for peace this holiday!