2009 (& 2008) Watkins Family Christmas Card

The weather in Laguna’s fine,
No need to dodge the sleet and flurries,
Closing out two thousand nine,
We’ve left behind all last year’s worries.

You may have missed our card last year,
No doubt because ‘twas never sent,
Things were rather hectic here,
Our relocation left us spent.

But after all the aggravation,
Our home we feel is now unmatched,
To garner last year’s situation,
Last year’s poem please find attached.

This year the theme was education,
High school first then college bound,
In June there was a graduation,
Friends and family all around.

Sage Hill’s David’s school of choice,
Just getting in was doing well,
Yet here he learned to find his voice,
To learn, to grow and to excel.

Aunt Natalie and Cousin Sue,
Flew in to join the celebration,
The Keown clan and Myron too,
Joined us in the congregation.

This happy high school culmination,
Was just a part of Binks’ plan,
Eleven schools across the nation,
Were targets of his college scan.

For months the application stress,
Of S.A.T.s and essay prose,
Felt like just a giant mess,
As the process came to close.

We flew to schools around the nation,
Got into eight but then which one?
He tried to find the right sensation,
Before the college search was done

Champlain College won the day
Though UPS was also great,
But boy Vermont is far away,
Though both indeed are out of state.

Father’s Day this year was grand,
Travelling East went Binks and Dad,
To Falling Waters first as planned,
Then to Deb and Karen’s pad.

It was for Dad a priceless time,
Kids and grandkids gathered ‘round,
A gathering he found sublime,
A missing piece together found.

We journeyed next to visit Nat,
For voice camp and a brief respite,
Rested with her dog and cat,
Saw Robb and Julie out one night.

Back at home Laguna Beach,
Proved to be the perfect place,
For Debbie’s David’s surprise speech,
Popped the question, made his case.

Strolling through the park that day,
Unleashing our conspiracy,
Rose petals spelled out on the way,
“Debbie, will you marry me”.

Then we travelled to Vermont,
David’s first day at Champlain,
Though this was all that we could want,
Still, a bittersweet refrain.

For Shannon and her long time beau,
We held a festive wedding gala,
Bride and groom were all aglow,
With all at our Casa Querida.

It was a perfect wedding day,
Lest I forget then let me hasten,
Amidst the fun let’s also say,
Welcome to the family Jason.

Afterwards ‘twas parents day,
Seeing Binks for just a weekend,
Thanksgiving week he came our way,
Perhaps these trips portend a trend.

A few days down in Mexcio,
Put our lives somewhat in order,
But as all of our travels go,
We always count on Bogie’s boarder.

Bogie loves to play and walk,
His favorite place is on the beach,
He often stops to smell and gawk,
Knowing we are within reach.

When away then Joni stays,
To be with her old canine soul,
Or Bogie’s watched in other ways,
Like Charlene in the sitter role.

There were some changes through the year,
Paul and Janis moved away,
Yet Bella Moda brought us cheer,
And treasured neighbors made the day.

Now it’s nearly closing time,
The year is up, the feeling’s fine,
We hope you like this fractured rhyme,
But you can find much more online.

As the year slips to its end,
May all your fears and worries cease,
We hope our wishes will extend,
To joy on earth and lasting peace.

Perhaps you noticed late last year,
The absence of our Christmas greeting,
Wishing you good will and cheer,
With stories we thought worth repeating.

Sorry but we’ve had delays,
That left us quite disorganized,
And struggling through the holidaze,
Led to having plans revised.

So here at last is 08s card,
We trust it find’s you well and fine,
And though the times seem very hard,
Here’s to a fine two thousand nine.

We hope we will eliminate,
That which was our source of stress,
Our house remodel’s looking great,
Though it is still sort of a mess.

Of course there will be lots to do,
It’s been around for 80 years.
With Michael’s help, Elizabeth too,
We’ll navigate through sweat and tears.

On top of all this rush and hassle,
David O. is college bound,
A senior soon to wear a tassel,
Calls and visits school’s he’s found.

Once we three a journey took,
Saw five schools within a week,
It’s best to get the feel and look,
But frenzied flights aren’t for the meek.

After school, Binks with Mary,
Flew to Nat’s and spent some time,
At voice camp with his teacher Kerry,
Amidst Vermont’s milieu sublime.

As if they hadn’t seen enough,
They trekked to schools there and about,
The college search can sure be rough,
But better that than having doubt.

Allie came to San Diego,
There she learned to shoot the curl,
Risky but then what do we know,
Now we have a surfer girl.

Another trip defies description,
David travelled solitary,
Recipient of a prescription,
Courtesy of his wife Mary.

To celebrate his 60 years,
Two weeks in Scotland was the gift,
A week of golf and several beers,
Then to Iona for a lift.

Golf was spent with good friend Mike,
On links of British Open fame,
A walk-through-nature spoiled hike,
But lovely golfing just the same.

To space out for a little while,
A special place he went to see,
Iona is a Celtic isle,
To feed the soul and just to be.

All the while sister Nat,
Jetted to the other Coast,
And there with Mary showed us that,
Family is what matters most.

Something we appreciated,
When suddenly we found her ill,
And loved ones there soon aggregated,
Recovered now, they’re with her still.

Another day still found us sadly,
Mourning for our good friend Don,
Who left us shocked and feeling badly,
Though he’d tell us ”just go on”.

This of course is what we’ll do,
Jean says she is hanging in there,
And though some things remain askew,
We grow together self aware.

Evident on Christmas day,
The first one spent at our new house,
Jean just loves to come and stay,
Close to Mary, cute as a mouse.

The family count was quite a tally,
A gathering that was sublime,
Diana came along with Sally.
The picture of a happy time.

Apologies to the Northeast,
As well as those around Seattle,
It feels like 80 out, at least,
There is no snow or ice to battle.

But you can visit as you will,
As well as those now living near,
And we can travel your way still,
You are all that we hold dear.

So greetings from Laguna Beach,
All the best this coming year,
Everything is within reach,
Let’s bring in peace and cast out fear.