For all the new readers, there's always last years card that still makes me smile every time I see it (drawn by Abs).
While Christmas is the hardest time to have Gunner gone, at least I know that he took the place of someone who missed last Christmas and that Soldier gets to be home this year. Next year, he's all ours.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas!
For your reading pleasure (and yes I know parts don't rhyme, but I should be filling stockings right now instead of worrying about rhyming words):
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, except for a military spouse;
The stockings were hung by 550 cord, with care,
In hopes that skype would work and her husband could be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of their dad in camo, danced in their heads;
And me in his sweats, and Army crap,
Had just settled down with lots of presents to wrap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the floor to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the crappy mini blinds and hoped no Soldier did crash.
The moon on the grass that I was glad did not grow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to housing below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature tank, and eight tiny rear-deer’s,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Sgt. Nick.
More rapid than deployments, his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Alpha! now, Bravo! now, Charlie and Delta!
On, Headquarters! on Scouts! on, S-2 and S-3!
To the top of the main gate! to the top of the wall!
Now convoy away! convoy away! convoy away all!"
As sand during a sandstorm does manage to fly,
When they meet with a desert, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the tank full of toys, and Sgt. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The stomping and clomping of each combat boot.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Not a creature was stirring, except for a military spouse;
The stockings were hung by 550 cord, with care,
In hopes that skype would work and her husband could be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of their dad in camo, danced in their heads;
And me in his sweats, and Army crap,
Had just settled down with lots of presents to wrap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the floor to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the crappy mini blinds and hoped no Soldier did crash.
The moon on the grass that I was glad did not grow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to housing below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature tank, and eight tiny rear-deer’s,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Sgt. Nick.
More rapid than deployments, his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Alpha! now, Bravo! now, Charlie and Delta!
On, Headquarters! on Scouts! on, S-2 and S-3!
To the top of the main gate! to the top of the wall!
Now convoy away! convoy away! convoy away all!"
As sand during a sandstorm does manage to fly,
When they meet with a desert, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the tank full of toys, and Sgt. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The stomping and clomping of each combat boot.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Through the mail slot Sgt. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in camo, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all pressed with fine spitshined black boots;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a Soldier just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they looked tired! his dimples were there,
But through it all, his sadness he did wear.
His strong mouth was quiet as he wondered how,
She managed to do it without sweat on her brow;
The single white envelope he held tight in his hand,
Was the first thing he set down, all covered with sand;
A single letter sent home, written straight from the heart,
Even if the military did keep them apart.
He was skinny and strong, silent and stealth,
No danger of stealing, as he was used to no wealth;
A wink of his eye and a nod of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And turning and smiling, he straightened his clothes
And giving a salute, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his tank, to his convoy gave a yell,
And away they all flew like a bat out of hell.
He was skinny and strong, silent and stealth,
No danger of stealing, as he was used to no wealth;
A wink of his eye and a nod of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And turning and smiling, he straightened his clothes
And giving a salute, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his tank, to his convoy gave a yell,
And away they all flew like a bat out of hell.
But I heard him call cadence as he drove out of sight
Remember he loves you he’ll call you tonight.
