Christmas in a child's heart: counting, waiting,anticipating,wishing, singing, laughing,playing...YEAH CHRISTMAS IS HERE!!!

Christmas in an adult's heart: rushing, cleaning, spending, over spending, baking, wrapping, hurrying, dreading...YEAH CHRISTMAS IS OVER!!!

REMEMBER THE WONDERS OF THE HOLIDAY AND WISHING EVERYONE A CHILD'S CONTENTED CHRISTMAS HEART

PATTI M. PAUL, EAGAN, MN

TO SPARKY
My beloved companion-
your yips and chortles all had meaning;
purrs reward for carelessly given strokes.

Your paws holding my face while I cradled you,
my joy was complete.

Put away the catnip and the rubber bands.
You were needed to cheer some small angel,
my velveteen cat.

Sheila Paul, Hudson, WI

Come steadily new year.
The pines gently waiver, their bases hold solid;
The winter light dances at their tips.
We bound -- ready we wait.
Flash Tango.
What era unfolds?

Ruth Ann Marks, St. Anthony, MN

May the Y2K Bug not come,
In this Brave New Millennium,
But should we not get,
All our digits reset,
Have a Happy Nineteen-Oh-One!

Martin Karnes Peterman, Rochester, MN

Let us recall that no day of shopping,
no shiny wrapping, no blinking lights,
can replace the moment of warmth and wonder,
of simply turning away,
from all material things,
to look upon those we hold dear,
and hear the voices of those we love.

Craig Kenworthy, Merriam , KS

I'm broke: A 50 word Sonnet for my Beloved

Your very presence, present enough.
Know, there is only one gift I need this Holiday,
Your boot prints beside mine in the white snow.
Yes, this maybe a cop out, but anyway,
They say it's the thought that counts, gash darn it,
and very hard to write half a sonnet.

Esther Hoffmann

BENEDICTION for the LONGEST DARKNESS

In the purple stillness
and crackling chill
of this longest darkness,
the whole wondrous Universe groans
expectantly,
preparing all for the pink cry of Dawn.

Linda Ann Lund, Golden Valley, MN

May you regale your descendants with tales of the "good old days" of the 20th century far into the 21st century.

Winnie Renner, Ely, MN

The Way to World Peace:
Let there be a miracle that converts every gun on Earth into a banana - then let's all stop whatever we're doing and sit down to eat them together. Be careful how you discard the peels so nobody slips on them!

Carol Alberts, St. Cloud, MN

HOLIDAY TOAST

To St. Nicholas:
No scarlet Rotarian, but good bishop, and would-be American.
Patron of common men: bootblack, sailor, baker, farmer.
Of Portsmouth, home of Pilgrims
And Russia, nurturing Alaskans.
"Sinterklaas" on Manhattan Island.
Modest, full of children and charity.
Hail, Nicholas, patron saint of Ellis Island!

Thomas Cook, merriam , ks

A Toast
Now let us celebrate this time -
Let's Y2Kiss the kith and kin.
Let's tap the keg and sound the chime
To ring this cyber season in.

Helen Kelley, Minneapolis, MN

Forget the arbitrary date,
commercial hype. Behold a gate,
a border where tomorrows wait.
Fling off old prejudice and hate;
turn a new page, or wash the slate. >Embrace a fresh, untarnished fate.
On New Year, never say, "Too late."

Mary A. Pryor, Moorhead, MN

As we embrace the new millenium
Armed with cell phones, palm pilots, and pentiums,
Let's pause, reflect, and remember,
What's important to us this December.
May we always maintain the ability,
To seek balance between change and stability.

Carol Trube, Warren, OH

For my darling Bob
You held my hand when I was sick,
Even when the incision was "ick".
And if YOU ever get cancer you will see
the gal you can really lean on will be me.
Thanks, lovey, for making this past year bearable.

Terri George

We have been blessed with three beautiful daughters, ranging in age from 9 to 14. Truly, the richness they have added to our lives is a blessing beyond measure.

Mike & Julie Billstein, Lake Elmo, MN

May this Holiday Season be filled with
Prosperity of the Spirit
Health of the Body and
Quietness of the Soul!

Jody Bryant, Mankato, MN

Whispering

And still, pristine snow falls to earth,
Dressing drab and grime
In sparkling newness,
Recreating the ordinary,
Whispering
Hope.

Kate Hanna, St. Paul, MN

A Holiday Toast to Friends

Here's to friends we once knew,
who, to advance, have, this pop stand, blew.

We miss them, every one,
hope their life's full of fun.

Be thankful for, in life, your place,
hope, for others, they'll be safe.....

with friends and full of cheer,
a hope for our millennium year.

Bob Lockyear