Twas the night before Christmas, in West Lafayette
The lizard’s not stirring, that’s a safe bet
The stockings were loaded, we tore them a sunder
It wasn’t too pretty, think pirates and plunder
The family is nestled, snug in their beds
Visions of scrapple filling their heads
I should be sleeping, I do need the nap
Instead of sleeping, I poured a nightcap
As the whiskey soaked in I started to mellow
Slowly becoming one right happy fellow
Then deep in my brain there arose such a clatter
My conscience was shouting, did this year matter?
What did you do, where did the year go?
You had to do something, what can you show?
Then what to my wondering eyes should appear,
The whole year played out, but still all a smear
All the pieces were there, but things were so hazy
Keep thinking and focus, it’s all just too crazy
My brain started working, so lively and quick
I knew in a moment, some things I could pick
The year started rough, just nasty and cold
Going outside was for only the bold
We went birding anyway, with Barb to the Soo
Snowy owls so stunning, and some frostbite too
Arizona in May, the weather so nice
After last winter, well worth the price
My job sent me there, bats to detect
A better place, I could not select
Chiricahua Mountains, a region quite tough
Home of the Apache, they had the right stuff
The Milky Way stunning, an incredible sight
Major sleep deprivation, the bats fly at night
A visit with Joanna, up in the U.P.
One of the best places to be
The cabin, some birding, Pesheeke for hiking
We stayed on Sand River, much to my liking
Lise went to Eureka, for a little vacation
Mike gave her a tour of legal distillation
He makes his own vodka, the critics all rave
This is good stuff, this is our fave
Two trips to the U.P., these for my work
Getting paid to travel is a really nice perk
Looking for bats, their reputation misleading
The terrain quite rough, our van took a beating
Molly did the Galapagos, college credits for school
Wildlife and fun times, now that’s pretty cool
I’ve never been there, she’s been there twice
I paid for both trips, trust me high is the price
The year had some good times, but some very sad
We lost two good ones, Jack Heisey and Dad
Both of them served, they did their part
Good men both, with plenty of heart
Buried with honors, and a rifle salute
Three volleys fired, a fitting tribute
Their time to go, some things you can’t change
Without their presence it seems kind of strange
Fido got sick, eating worms stuffed with fescue
Lucky for her, Lindsay came to the rescue
Now Lindsay is sick, her kidneys are history
No one knows why, it’s all a big mystery
She’s facing it well, she’s tough and strong,
There’s no reason for this, it’s just so wrong
She now does dialysis, her routine is rough
But like the Apache, she has the right stuff
Looking back at the year, we did what we could
When the occasion warranted, we did what we should
We keep plugging on, and we fight the good fight
So happy Christmas to all and to all a good night
Ed's and Lise's Biggish Years 