‘Twas the night of Cottage Christmas, when all through the house, I prepped for some fun, and gave my hair a touse; The paper chains were hung from the ceiling with care, In hopes that our friends soon would be there; The tinsel was nestled all snug on their spreads; While visions of celebration danced in our heads; And me in my red dress, and kurt in a snap, Had just finished cooking the appetizers without any mishap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, we sprang from the kitchen to see what was the matter. Away to the foyer we flew like a flash, Tore open the dutch door and threw up the sash. The light on the porch had such a glow, Gave a lustre of midday to our arriving friends below, When what to our wondering eyes did appear, But a sprinkle of snow started to fall and appear! With a few old good friends so lively and quick, I yelled be careful - try not to slip! More rapid than eagles their coursers they came, And we whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: “Now, Ryan! now, Brandon! now Syd, Jess, and James! On, Daniel! on, Ash! on, Emma, B, Jake! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now Marissa! Now Brett! Matt, Marilyn, Rob, Julia and all!” As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with a hug and “Happy Holiday” sighs; So up to the cottage the coursers they flew With the sleigh full of cookies, and maybe wine too — And then, in a twinkling, I heard through the doors The singing and dancing that sounded like roars. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, our cottage was full with friends from all around. Some dressed in fur, from the head to the foot, And others in sparkles and velvet to hoot; A bundle of memories started to flow back, With stories of past years where the fun did not lack. The joy — how it twinkled! The friendship, how merry! Like fine wine it ages topped with a cherry. What started as kids we didn’t know, we’d grow up all together - our new husbands and wives in tow. A Christmas party that once started when we were young enough to lose teeth, we’ve now taken over in our own home and added a wreath. [finished in comments hehe]