T’was the day before Christmas

And all over town,

Everyone was quite happy

While shopping around;

They wave hello greetings

To friends on the street,

And even to strangers

They happen to meet;

That’s the really nice thing, ‘Bout this time of year,

When even ex-lovers will share a cold beer.

Now the Parlor has set up it’s sidewalk displays,

And you’ll find Liz inside sipping on her latte;

‘Cross the street in the Herald my editors say,

One of my last columns is a bit too risque,

So they change the damn thing as they sometimes do,

And it’s okay with me if they print something new.

While inside the post office each day without fail,

I buy a stamp from Mary and pick up my mail.

The Rainier is serving an extra large crowd,

It’s the same in the Mint and of course just as loud;

I ran across those ladies class of fifty-five,

who always get together in some local dive,

Once a month you might see them at the lunch that they do,

Today they’re together in the Rendezvous.

Mike Runland’s in his office moving papers around,

And further up the street Vesey will be found,

Their lives can be hectic and

Their goals are the same,

To make a few nickels

At the insurance game.

And now here comes Marilyn

She owns C on C,

She has a few problems so

She hurries past me;

She works on town projects some large and some small,

And each must be approved by our City Hall.

And within the ol’ Ski Inn let no one forget,

Everyone is quite thankful for the free banquet;

Amber sits on a bar stool and surveys her domain,

While at the pool table her husband does reign.

I drop by the Lee where Ivy serves the booze,

She’ll mix up most anything a customer might choose;

She has time to hug me despite her hectic pace,

Which is the main reason I go in the place.

Early in the evening as dusk starts to fall,

I find I am in Jackson’s for the happy-hour call;

When the drinks are the cheapest when people come,

And I squeeze thru the crowd to get a hot-buttered rum;

It’s crowded at the window yet I still find a seat,

Where we gaze with contentment out upon the street;

And while toasting one another it occurs to me,

I should toast all of you wherever you might be;

So let me raise my glass of seasonal cheer,

And wish you merry Christmas

And a happy new year!