Slumber Party for Seventeen

Family converges for three or four days
From New York, Phoenix, and L.A.’s haze

The weather has turned; it’s icy here
Our guests in the “smoking room” may freeze, I fear.

Conscientious, they won’t pollute our house
They puff on the porch and don't even grouse

Braving the wind and the temperature drop
Still, they light-up why won’t they stop?

Stronger than addiction to sugar are cigs
Hopeful they don't grab our nieces' teen kids

What can we do but love ‘em up?
Invite ‘em in for hot drinks and sup



There is so much for which we are thankful
Music, family, friendship, and reserve tanks full

Of love so easily exchanged among folks
Who are family we’d choose as friends - like spokes

Relating to a central hub of kin
From which we spring; family all under the skin

Thursday’s feast, only for twenty, was smaller this year.
Extending the circle from our hearts, we send good cheer



Our Cousin Palooza Saturday gave rise
To connections made real, and teary g’byes

Forty four or so meeting, and making merry
Exchanging contact info and promises to ferry

Hellos back home to those unable
To join the festivities at the table.

Kids in the basement, kids in the stairwell
Kids in the playroom hating to bid farewell

To hordes of cousins they’d only just met
And played with so well and will never forget



Off to Alcatraz the final six go
This morning’s chill, freezing each toe.

They’ll fly off this evening for New York
Remembering how their road led to this fork

They leave behind echoes of laughter
Stuck to each wall, floor, heart, and rafter

So grateful are we for all our relations
Matakweasan, from every nation

Happy Holidays from our hearts
May your leftovers be yummy, and not give you gas




(With heart-felt gratitude to my honey Mark
Who supported the rhyme scheme, like a walk in the park.)

My grateful heart enfolds also our daughters and grandie
Whose expertise in the kitchen sure came in handy!

With two ovens acting up and unreliable
The dining schedule applied was pliable

No one here went hungry this week or feasting either day
Ovens fixed or no, next year, we'll eat too - either way

Lucky, lucky, we count ourselves blessed
We'd do it again in a heart-beat unstressed

After the ecstasy there's always the laundry
Where to put beds is the biggest quandary

Upstairs or down, garage or broken sauna
My honey can decide because I don't wanna!