Cozy Christmas Eve,
phone visits with family,
walks in the sunshine.
Rustic centerpiece,
classic steak, baked potato,
just the two of us.
Yuletide carols play.
“We wish you a Merry Christmas.”
Stockings are hung with care.
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
I will
find a balance,
time for important things:
work, play, health, creativity,
romance.
I will
simplify life,
streamline daily routines,
minimize material things,
relax.
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
Looking forward to 2021, I think the situation looks very fluid. We will need goals, but even more, we will need to be flexible. I usually make New Year’s resolutions; this year, I have settled for good intentions! 🙂
Dear One,
epitome
of patience and kindness,
will you stay with me forever?
Love me.
Promise
me forever…
tenderness and passion,
undying love and loyalty.
Love me.
How long
is forever?
Much longer than never…
an indeterminate journey...
Love me.
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
Happy New Year,
Wonderful Fellow Bloggers!
Things have gotten a little crazy here!
I am taking a break
and will do my best to catch up on my emails.
See you in 2021. ❤ ❤ ❤
Timeless memories,
shared hopes for our tomorrows,
we live in the now.
Our energy wanes.
Wit is replaced by wisdom.
Our love flourishes.
Love lights the twilight.
In winter’s chill, we are warmed
by each other’s gaze.
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
After six happy years together, we are making it official. We plan to be married in 2021 after the pandemic ends, probably late summer.
We wish you all the joys of the season and a peaceful and prosperous 2021. May love light your life and warm your heart! ❤ ❤ ❤
In October, from Russia, Katey and Joe,
came to Florida twenty-five years ago.
Friends and relatives sent gifts of welcome.
Hanukkah and Christmas gifts filled our home!
That January, when Katey turned five,
we agreed that a book was the best gift to give.
On Katey’s birthday, when Papa came home,
the birthday plans all came undone!
When Papa came in, Katey was overjoyed.
Between Papa’s feet was a Barney toy.
From the wheelchair, Barney saw his new place.
A gigantic grin spread over Papa’s face.
Katey kissed Barney’s purple cheek,
and the talking dinosaur began to speak.
In his goofy voice, Barney said, “I love you.”
It was unmistakable, Katey loved him too!
We lost Papa six years later in January,
weeks before Katey’s eleventh birthday.
Barney lived with Katey for twenty-three years.
His demise last year left Katey in tears.
This year, I found on Amazon,
Katey’s Christmas present, a Barney clone!
Barney now lives in Texas, where he’ll say,
“I love you,” to Katey every day.
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
My late husband, Drew, and I adopted Katey and Joe from Russia in October, 1995. We lived in Miami Beach, and Drew, AKA “Papa,” was a very devoted father until his death in January, 2003. Katey now lives near Dallas, Texas with her older sister Ellen, a cat, a dog, and two other roommates. The new Barney, the Purple Dinosaur, just joined the household.
Manger scenes telling the Christmas Story
Exchanging gifts with friends and family
Relatives and friends visiting
Remembering to hang your stocking
Yummy food in December
Christmas Pageants with lines to remember
Hanging mistletoe up high
Reindeer flying across the sky
Invitations to parties and balls
Singing Yuletide carols
Trees we decorate
Making cookies and cakes
Advent wreaths with candles
Santa and his elves
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
The acrostic is an old fashioned staple of school and Sunday school programs. Each child holds up a letter and recites his “piece.” The letters often spell MOTHER for Mothers Day, HAPPY THANKSGIVING or MERRY CHRISTMAS.
(My memories from the 1990s)
On the eighth night of Hanukkah,
We’re celebrating with Grandma and Grandpa.
Candles will shed soft light
on the faces of our family tonight.
Children light the menorah carefully.
Their father smiles approvingly…
A quiet moment lingers like a dream…
before latkes, applesauce, and sour cream.
Enjoyed by glowing candlelight,
Hanukkah gelt is a sweet delight.
Children eagerly await
opening present number eight.
We sing,”Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel.”
Our pennies are on the table.
Spinning dreidels with Grandma, it’s clear,
“A great miracle happened here!”
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights that commemorates the rededication of the second temple. There was enough oil in the temple lamps to burn for only one night, but miraculously, it burned for eight nights. “A great miracle happened here!” is the message conveyed by the Hebrew letters on the dreidel. A dreidel is a top that is spun in a traditional gambling game. Our children and their grandma played for pennies.
Hanukkah is celebrated for eight nights. At sundown, the Hanukkah menorah is lit. One candle is lit on the first night. Another candle is added each night until, on the eighth night, all eight candles burn. Children receive a present on each night of Hanukkah.
A traditional Hanukkah food, latkes are grated potato pancakes fried in oil often served with applesauce and sour cream. The oil symbolizes the oil that burned for eight nights in the temple lamps. Hanukkah gelt is chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil. Our family also enjoyed chopped liver on matzos (similar to crackers) and matzo ball soup at Hanukkah.
Gulf Coast Poet 