Hi Gang, <br /><br />Sorry I&#39;ve been absent for so long.  My three day visit to Rome and 13 day on the Legend to <br />Italy and Croatia in October were wonderful but things have gone from bad to worse in San <br />Francisco since then.  I&#39;m sure not going to update you on Christmas - maybe tomorrow.  In<br />the meantime, I did manage to poems.  Hope you had a great day and may your New Years<br />be better than mine&#33;&#33;&#33;<br /><br />Love to Alll,<br /><br />Carmen<br /><br /><br /><br />Christmas Gifts <br /> <br /><br />It happens every Yuletide, <br /><br />The gifts that come my way, <br /><br />Are often so outrageous, <br /><br />I throw my hands up in dismay&#33; <br /><br />  <br /><br />I don&#39;t know who decided, <br /><br />That, at my age of sixty-four, <br /><br />A gift card for Victoria&#39;s Secret, <br /><br />Was something I&#39;d adore&#33; <br /><br />  <br /><br />My grandchild watched, excited, <br /><br />As I unwrapped his gift to me, <br /><br />&quot;Massacre&quot; by 50 Cent, <br /><br />Not my hinted at CD. <br /><br />  <br /><br />My husband spends far too much, <br /><br />On gifts I do not need, <br /><br />There is always an item of jewelry, <br /><br />No matter how much I plead. <br /><br />  <br /><br />Sometimes I get a sweater, <br /><br />In a color I&#39;d never wear, <br /><br />Or, in a style, more suited for teens, <br /><br />But, on me, it provokes a stare. <br /><br />  <br /><br />Some of my gifts are not even, <br /><br />Those one could ever re-gift, <br /><br />But thinking of recipients for them, <br /><br />Always gives my spirits a lift&#33; <br /><br />  <br /><br />This year, I&#39;ve suggested to loved ones, <br /><br />Our gift should be a nice dinner out, <br /><br />Enjoying a meal and each other, <br /><br />Is the best gift of all, there&#39;s no doubt. <br /><br />  <br />Carmen Henesy <br /><br /><br />Copyright © 2008 Carmen Henesy. All Rights Reserved.<br /><br /><br /><br />A Very Special Tree <br /><br />  <br /><br />The sun was setting in the sky, <br /><br />And snow loomed in the air, <br /><br />People jammed the malls, <br /><br />Or gathered for some posh affair. <br /><br />  <br /><br />Tree lots had meager choices, <br /><br />There was not much that remained, <br /><br />And even those selections, <br /><br />Suffered from recent days it rained. <br /><br />  <br /><br />A rector from a parish church, <br /><br />In the poorest part of town, <br /><br />Came across a straggly fir, <br /><br />The smallest one around. <br /><br />  <br /><br />Its branches were quite flimsy, <br /><br />It was even slightly bent, <br /><br />But its straggly little branches, <br /><br />Gave off a fragrant scent. <br /><br />  <br /><br />Soon it stood next to the altar, <br /><br />In the rector&#39;s tiny church, <br /><br />Trimmed in antique ornaments, <br /><br />On a gilded metal perch. <br /><br />  <br /><br />Waterford crystal lights, <br /><br />From the rector&#39;s Irish past, <br /><br />Gave the little tree such beauty, <br /><br />That was totally unsurpassed. <br /><br />  <br /><br />A dazzling Christmas angel, <br /><br />In spun silver, flecked with gold, <br /><br />This magical little tree, <br /><br />Became a treasure to behold. <br /><br />  <br /><br />No longer bent but ramrod straight, <br /><br />It stood for all to see, <br /><br />Its branches raised unto the Lord, <br /><br />In praise, divine and heavenly. <br /><br />  <br /><br />Carmen Henesy <br /><br />  <br />Copyright © 2008 Carmen Henesy. All Rights Reserved.<br /><br /><br />( please note that the author has no husband or <br /><br />grandchild nor has she ever received annual <br /><br />expensive pieces of jewelry )<br /><br />