2022 Poem

Welcome to Christmas 2022
Buckle up there’s a lot to get through

Although interest rates grow higher; Santa’s elves never tire
We finished 2022 with payments a little higher,

Gabe and Shannon travel down to the wire, but warm and cozy with a Fulton Christmas fire.

The year started as it does
Shannon’s birthday to kick things off
Who knew they would soon be in a NYC loft

But wait hold on, I’m getting too far ahead
We have some important things to cover like – I do thee wed

A ring, an early morning ping, and a zoom meeting
A remote wedding on a beach lots of tweeting

While we were away in the land of chocolate and money
Zandra married Ilyah her American honey

They said their vows, sneakers and sand
And then of in the Hawaiian sunset hand and hand

In that same month we turned 16 to 19, a Josh birthday and we all went to Switzerland to do some slaagen
Even in Copenhagen we ate ze hot doggen

Zurich, Lucern, Interlacken and Zermatt

We walked churches, high perches and I did some duo lingo searches

We ate fondues, walked mountain views and even soared over lakes in crews of two

Finally wrapping things up on the trains of the Matt
Josh and Ethan the Zermatt frat

And then all to soon Josh and friends to Europe roaming paths
Little did we know they would take so few baths

Once back, Leah and Rob an Outer Banks getaway for two
Then Business travel for Leah in the long horn state It was Mastermind in Austin woohoo

Leah’s big day, a decade to change
We were now both in the 50s range

We celebrated with a tour of the distillery,
Then floated away in a chamber filled with music, lights and little frillery

Birthdays grew in May too
Zandra’s birthday from afar, I think I remember Ilyah and a car
But they persevered and celebrated together
In the beautiful Hawaiian weather

Rachel her birthday in May as well
A celebration amid a wedding shower swell

Oh no don’t think we’re done yet
Another wedding was a humming, oh boy you bet!

The preparation was pretty intense and the anticipation immense

The lights got strung, the tent ceiling got hung, and before you know it the wedding bells were rung

We danced in the night of a beautiful surround
Soon these two would be Alaska bound

But before we were through there was one last important deal
And that was to the Temple to seal!

But let’s not forget the parties weren’t through
Leah wasn’t finished turning 50 that’s true!

So birthday cake on a plane, we headed to Mexico minus two crew
To resorts to celebrate Leah’s birthday number two

Fun in the sun and heat so neat we just couldn’t be beat
Uh oh … except Rachel’s refunds from the bathroom seat and Sam’s strange something to do with his mouth and feet?!?

But soon on the mend, our resort cohort was tanned and despite some moving a little slow
We picked things up with an adventure on the yatch YOLO

To the Isla Mujeres attire a little sus
Ocean swimming in the blue was a must

We had sushi to be remembered and some illnesses to be sure
But taken all together memories so pure

In to July more birthdays for sure, Gabe, Sam and Zach they’re all nearly back to back

Oh where to start with this July team
So much going on nearly bursting at the seam

Gabe and Shannon left for the skyscrapers and home of the Waldorf Astoria
New York City these two certainly adore ya

Zach and Rachel in Utah they be,
nursing and neuroscience their great marks tuition’s free!
Learning the brain and the bod too, these two make a fearsome crew!

And then there is Sam, a girl named Kieran and his long flowing hair
To Kenya he went to spread some much needed care

Then Hawaii just the girls
Man these CDFs are a whirl

And Boston.. take a breath
Maine lobster death!!

The summer done and twilight musing
Let’s not forget Gran,Di and the family Busing

Then quick as a flash the summer an end
And fall and St Nick around the bend

School kick off and something new to begin
Josh was at Ottawa in Carleton

Soon adapted to the life of student rigor
First year brains and livers grow bigger!

Then there were 3 in the old Fulton house
Soon it would be just me and my spouse

As December grew near there are a few things more!
So let’s keep push for the 2023 door.

A Brooklyn visit and preamble to the new year,
And of course let’s not forget Zandra’s graduation cheer!

So with the winter winds a howling and the temperature falling
Let’s get this party started and stop all this stalling

To say we are blessed is an understatement of fact
The joy of the season is certainly no act

So with a good cheer let’s open our hearts to say
Merry Christmas to all and have a great day.