Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Since today’s blog post will be our last one before Christmas day, I thought we’d have a little fun with a familiar holiday poem – Enjoy!
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a – mouse clicking last-minute gift ideas online.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would – make all of our holiday credit card debt disappear.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of – iPads, LEGOs, and Let’s Rock Elmos! danced in their heads.
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down – after an argument over the Christmas budget.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I – sprang into action thinking a delivery man had tossed our new computer monitor over the fence.
Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the lustre of mid-day to – our new luxury car’s GIANT bow.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but – the realization that we got suckered into another new-car lease . . . every two years.
With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came. And he whistled, and shouted, and – he laughed at me by name, when he saw the terms of the agreement.
“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! – I hope they got a better deal on their car insurance!”
Let this be a lesson to all who hear, the need for financial planning is perfectly clear. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof – they’re tearing up my shingles with each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came – leaving me his policy information.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler – trying to sell me something I don’t really need.
His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard of his chin – reminded me that I need to save for retirement before I get too old.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed – just like the credit card agent laughed when I asked for a credit-line increase.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know – I’ll be paying interest til I’m dead . . . or until I get my spending under control.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings, then – called me a jerk for putting my family in such an unstable financial situation.
And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight – “If you paid cash for Christmas, you’ll sleep better tonight!“
Photo by brockvicky
