Year-end Poem

Life continues to move at an ever-increasing pace.  No surprise there.  Still, as 2012 grows closer to a close I feel the need to take a moment and attempt to quantify it somehow, to try to make sense of an entire year worth of life on this crazy planet of ours.  So here it goes, in poem form…because it has just been that kind of year.

Two thousand and twelve, into you I’ll delve in an attempt to find some meaning

Your winter was mild in NE Ohio, to the delight of adult, and the dismay of child

No snow was seen, sledding was lean and there was almost no chance for skiing

Within summer’s reach we’d escape to the beach, with a truck-full of boys and gear

Great times, ghost crabs, waves and cousins, we enjoyed good weather and cheer

Upon our return we started to yearn for some changes, just something new

The itch is still there but we just don’t know where or what we are longing to do

Growing boys and summer joys brought smiles and lots of tan faces

Swimming, biking and even some hiking but we still look for wide-open spaces

As summer ended, women were offended as Romney wanted to put them in binders

Politico has us jaded and freedom seems to have faded, as if we need a reminder

Soccer was fun, the boys got to run and occasionally even kicked the ball

Puppies were born and even though we'd sworn, we just had to go see them all

Of course we chose one, and brought him home to add to the chaos and joy

Cleaning up messes and puppy-teeth kisses ensured he’s just one of the boys

The Mayans predicted we’d all get evicted from the planet we’ve taken to living

So we invited our parents, popped in a turkey, & figured we'd host this Thanksgiving

The Holidays came and the Mayans were lame in their end of the world predictions

Santa would visit, but not before the flu, and lots of cold and fever medication

A shooter would break hearts before school break starts, the loss was more than depressing

Still, Christmas would find us with family and friends, reminded of all of our blessings

Two thousand twelve, although you weren't always swell, you were full of surprises for sure.

Two thousand thirteen, I have to come clean, I am expecting a little bit more.

More changes for the better, more love and more grace but I pray PLEASE no more school violence

More progress in Washington, more jobs, more confidence and less ignorance, anger and silence.

Two thousand thirteen I don’t want to be mean, but I want to get it out in the open

We are ready to take charge of our future and for your cooperation we are more than just hoping

So let’s raise a toast to two thousand and twelve and bid it a fond cheerio

And let’s raise another to the year that’s to come and do our best to let the good times flow!