Season’s greetings greetings from Delaware.
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the place
Not a creature was stirring, such is the case
Stockings are filled, all stuffed full with care
‘cause that’s how it’s done, here in Delaware
The ladies were nestled, snug in their beds
While visions of scrapple danced in their heads
Sitting there thinking, I finished my nightcap
Was settling my brain for a long winter’s nap
When deep in my mind there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
A voice was calling, it demanded to know
What did you do this year, where did you go?
My brain was so cloudy, nary a spark nor flash
Do something and quick, but don’t be too rash
When what to my wandering eyes should appear,
But the whole year laid out for me, ever so clear
Costa Rica was first, I clearly could see
Lifers we tallied, for Stefan, and we
Our guide was named Melvin, he was lively and quick
We knew in a moment, we made the right pick
More rapid than eagles the species they came,
Melvin whistled and shouted and called them by name
Now guans, now toucans, now highland tinamou
A trogan, a quetzal, and a bananaquit too
On top of the porch, on top of the wall
Now look at them, look at them, look at them all
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
My visions were swirling, up to the sky
I tried to focus, and do the year in review
I saw them all twirling, now get them in queue!
With Barb we went North, winter birding the Soo
We three and Ellen, met Joanna there, too
Snowy owls were the best, always a treat
Almost locked in the dump, to finish the week
To the U.P. for bats, in the Spring season,
Detected too few, a disease is the reason
Quick trip to Delaware, early in the summer
Too late for migration, bit of a bummer.
Molly did Oklahoma, so sunny and hot
An internship, where she learned a lot
We went with Joanna, Limberlost up in Canada
Hiking, and paddling, some new Odanata
Visited Lynn, upstate Pennsylvania,
Place would be great, except for Trumpmania
Appalachian Trail, with my brother Rich
Ninety miles and a hundred, the rocks were a bitch
My mind was still struggling, coming to grips,
What else happened, it wasn’t just trips
Retired in June, they gave me a chair
Took up the bagpipes, Lise’s nightmare
We almost lost Lindsay, her kidneys had failed
She hung on and fought it, she finally prevailed
She had a tough go, it was breaking our hearts
But she got a transplant, her Dad had spare parts
Speaking of miracles, the Cubs won the Series,
They took it in seven, defying the theories
The year has been mixed, some things not so good
Our lizard passed on, but we did what we could
We elected an idiot, he’s all bluster and blow,
and taken our country to a very new low.
This Country’s on track for a historic collision,
‘cause he’s sunk us as low as the Dred Scot decision
To sum it all up, we did the year right
we did what we could, and fought the good fight
The new year is coming, a new ray of light
So, happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Ed's and Lise's Biggish Years 