christmasletter2002

Fond Christmas Wishes to All

With recipe searches on the world-wide-web
My taste-buds are churning, I may need a bib!
The cherry desserts and sweet-potato dishes
compete with the pecan and chocolate wishes
Mark and Christy both will be here
So it really doesn’t matter what is the fare.
Just the fact that we will be all together
makes the real meaning of Christmas come hither.

The last child married--Traci to John
A nice addition. He helps with the lawn!
And cooks some elegant meals for us some
Traci definitely is having more fun.

He's the first male McFarland to carry the name
He is called Noah, Troy and Shannon are to blame!
He's growing so fast, and charming us all
Lucky for him, granddad loves to play ball!

Losing my mom was a difficult hurdle
Her humor and interests had always been fertile.
She didn’t retire till she turned eighty-three
And she hated the day she was told “No more free...
access to that car you’ve driven blind.”
She knew those roads like the back of her hind!
At 85 years, we still wished for more
but she lived a good life and will wait on that shore
to see all who loved her and her example did follow
Who knows? We may all be in a group playing cellos!

The last of this year has been fairly hard--
We faced Tom’s cancer–but he’s not up to par!
He gave up his prostate for peace of his mind.
Knowing it’s gone, they never should find
recurrence again. For he had just the best--
with a robot in hand. Now Tom rests
with a new verve for life.
Which benefits me, his loyal wife!
The blessings of God are filling our hearts
and binding together–so nothing can part.

We’ve traveled this year to keep up with our toddlers
Tom is saying “I have no more time to coddle her”
(speaking of me). So I got on Dad’s scooter
and missed a curve, I could have been neutered!
The AC was separated, the rib was broken!
And I could hardly put on the beans to soaken!
Taking a bath was a sight to see
washing my hair with one good hand free
then one-handed drying gave a Diller-like do!
But everyone acted like they never even knew

(The shoulder is healing. That’s for an overview.)

Part of the fun of having marriage get-aways
are the one-day trips just to see a play
We hear not a phone or an answer-machine
And return with a new more content feeling.

Two of my trips I took without Tom.
Number one with sis after losing our Mom
She biked while Linda and I hiked down a mount.
We rode in a raft in rapids, how we bounced!
Idaho hospitality was enjoyed by us both.
We’ll never forget our great Barton hosts.

The other alone trip was only last week–went a cruisin’
with an old friend. We had short times for a snoozin!

Aging is something that has become very real.
Losing joints, sight, and energy is no thrill
to have to slow down and know we’re way past
the mid-point of time they predict that we last!
I try to be upbeat and deny “age” is here
But the blatant reminders are ev-er-y-WHERE!

Tom is reducing his time served as healer
to see those sweet grandkids–he’s now a believer
in the valuable relationships that make it worth
getting up mornings and giving birth.

We count our connections as vital to life
It somehow reduces that everyday strife.
So please stay in touch and keep us aware
of all of the hurdles you're asked to bear.

Merry Christmas to all–and I’ll end this now,
Before these rhymes etch furrows in your brow.
We love you all
Have a blessed New Year

Tom and Arlene
5603 Martin Ave NE
Fort Payne, AL 35967
arlene@arlenemcfarland.com
256-845-5606

Here are the grandkids: