Only Two More Sleeps Till ... Holiday

And so this is Christmas.  And what have we done ...?

Well, a quarter of a century has come and gone since John Lennon left us, and this year started with a tour in England, accompanied by the entire family, where we took this picture for our family Christmas Card:

Points for guessing the locale and what we were doing.

And the year ended with a visit to the suite where John Lennon recorded "Give Peace a Chance". Fitting, all things considered.

Every year we send out one of those annoying letters with our Christmas Cards.  When the kids were young, I would compose the letter, but now they're all growed up, so they take turns and each year try to outdo the year previous.  Here, with occasional editor's notes framed by square brackets, is this year's version (and if you don't appreciate good doggerel, you are dead to me):

Merry Christmas from the Lings, we hope this finds you well.
It’s Erin’s turn this year to write the letter, can you tell?
We’ve had an action-packed twelve months – I’ll try not to be long-winded,
A lot of you heard our big news (well, at least all of our kin did).

[Oh, come ON.  How can you not love that?]

The four of us, plus Matthew, went to Britain this past May.
We did Scotland, England, Paris – it was great, what can I say?
Dad was doing shows, and brought us all just for the ride,
He played in lots of small towns through the English countryside.

We rented our own vehicle and we drove the wrong way ‘round;
I’m a bossy back seat driver (and Dad hates that, so we found).
Besides the driving, we had fun and we barely ever fought
(if they don’t read this letter first, that lie can not be caught!).

[Let me quote directly - and I do mean verbatim - from Allison's trip journal from one such excursion:   

DAD:   Blah blah blah, jerkjerkjerk, blah, blah, blah.
MOM:  Shut up, fuck off, eat shit, and die.

Seriously.  I'm hard on navigators.]

We saw Glasgow, up in Scotland, and Paris, down in France,
Saw Brooke Shields in a London show … who knew that she could dance?
We did the basic tourist stuff, what everybody’d do,
We got to see Stonehenge and Bath - the month just really flew.

Matt and I went on our own to see my friend in Porth
(that’s in Wales, just so you know, from Cardiff, it’s just north).

The highlight of my trip, I guess, was on the final day,
Matthew popped the question and I had to say, “OK!”
What high school sweethearts do you know who have the bragging power
To say they got engaged at the base of the Eiffel Tower?

[Suck it, Tom Cruise.  Two weeks before you.  This is the exact moment Erin told her sister.  I love this - the shared joy is everything I believe sisters should be.]

So that’s our biggest news this year, I’m getting married in July –
The sous-chef at the nicest spot in town … now that’s my guy!
I had jaw surgery in March, part of the deal with braces,
It kind of sucked, but my teeth are fixed – and see how nice my face is

[Allie on the left, Erin with her new face on the right, on the London Eye]

I’m subbing music tons this year, running ‘round and getting dizzy
My 19 private piano students keep me very very busy.
I teach karate four times a week my time is never free.
But here’s what Allie’s up to – you’re likely sick of me!

Allie graduates this year – she’s an Honours English Major.
She’ll finish at the top and win awards and things, I’ll wager.
On top of all the schoolwork she does, she somehow finds
The time to work a part-time job, teach fiddle to young minds,

She helps out at the pet pound, helping dogs and cats and birds,
She’s such a fine young woman now, we’re proud beyond all words!
She’s still with her guy, Trevor, that handsome golfing pro
(We think that they should tie the knot, but she says not yet, no).

Mom and Dad keep busy (well, Mom does more than Dad).
Golfing’s over for the season and that always makes them sad.
Mom still works with clay – she’s our (talented!) own potter
She’s thinner than she’s ever been and she never has looked hotter!

[Strict picture and name embargo here.  But Erin's an honest kid.]

Border Collie Roxy, who is 60 pounds and gaining
Has joined fly-ball with Mom and they are really good at training.
Dad is working hard and has a project underway,
I think it is a secret, but it’s for TV, I’ll say.

If you haven’t seen him this past year, you won’t believe your eyes –
He’s down more weight , you gotta see, he’s nearly half his size!

[Yeah, but they still call me to play Santa.]

That’s mostly it this year, I guess – we’ll likely be in touch
Happy New Year, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and such!

- The Lings

So, that's our year.  It's been a good one, on balance. 

There were setbacks - there always are.  Letters like this always stress the rosy side of things, but nobody goes through a year without pain and anguish and sadness and anger and fear and doubt.  They're there, but they don't make it into the Christmas letter.

If you've had what feels like more than your share of the bad stuff, I hope you can take a few minutes to write yourself a Christmas letter.  Pick out the best of this past year and, for a few days at least, make that the focus of all your thoughts.  Remind yourself of everything that is good in your life, and let the rest live behind the page for just a short while.

The bad won't go away, for any of us.  And if it does, rest assured there will be other bad to rush in and fill the vacuum.  But the good endures, too, and there's more good just waiting round the corner for its chance to fill your soul.

Endure the bad, but be especially ready in heart and soul to welcome the good.  It will come.

Merry Christmas.

Comments

[Torrie]

I feel all warm and fuzzy.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

[LadyBug]

What a nice Christmas letter. I love that you all take turns writing it.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Nilbo.

[Susie]

The Christmas letters in my mailbox often are just sucky.

But if I should receive this fine epistle, I'd think myself quite lucky.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

[Nils]

Still no guesses on the Christmas picture? Would it help if there were a Volkswagen parked at the curb with the license plate 28IF ?

[Jim Fogg]

Is this a trick question?

Abbey Road pehaps?

Peace and Merry Xmas

[Maurice]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Ling Family!

[Effie]

Oh--love the Christmas letter with edits--warm and fuzzy happy family!

Love, Joy and Peace to the Ling family and friends at this blessed Christmas season--
Hugs,
Effie

[Effie]

Oh--and in the pic the cars are on the wrong side of the road and they look awfully expensive/fancy--I can't think what you're doing though....hmmm--I give up--whatcha doin'? Goose marching?

[Nils]

Oh, dear, Effie ... and Jim handed it to you on a platter! We're at the famous zebra crossing on Abbey Road, recreating the Beatles picture as closely as we could - note John in the lead, hands in pockets (sadly, Allison left her white suit at home); Ringo; then Paul with the bare feet; and finally George, dressed entirely in denim.

We are, it is clearly evident, the dorkiest family to visit Britain in the past year. Possibly ever.

[kalki]

Y'all are the dorkiest family EVER, I think. And I love it.

Merry Christmas, lovely Lings.

[Bucky Four-Eyes]

I wasn't gonna jump in on the Abbey Road thing...it was pretty obvious to me, but then, it could be an AGE thing.

And to add to the bundle of good wishes you're receiving here, let me add a Merry Christmas to the, uh, cunning Lings. ;)

[eclectic]

Oh sure.. I have to follow Bucky!

Still, that was a very clever letter from a heart-warming family. And your thoughts at the end of the post are much appreciated. Happy Christmas, Nils.

[jessica_deva]

What a great letter - beautiful family - and wonderful reminder. Thanks, Nils.

[Squirl]

Like Bucky, I figured knowing the Abbey Road reference was an age thing. I caught it immediately. Always did like that album. :-)

That was a great letter. As you say no family always has good times. But it sounds like you have a close, loving family and that's what gets you through the lousy times.

Merry Christmas to the Lings!

[wordgirl]

Re-creating the Abby Road back cover, Natch! I do forget where that is exactly, though.
Great pic, Nilbo! Have a great Christmas!

[Ern]

It's not an age thing, Bucky and Squirl, I got the Abbey Road reference too.

That's a great Christmas letter. I always figure, if it's worth writing, it'w worth doing with style.

Merry Christmas to all the Lings!

[Susie]

Merry Christmas, Nilbo and company!

[Squirl]

Nilbo, if you have time, would you please explain Boxing Day? Happy Boxing Day, BTW!

[suburban misfit]

I *totally* got the Abbey Road reference and I don't even own the album!

Man, I wish I had a kid old enough to marry into your family. That would rock.

Happy Christmas, Merry New Year...wait...switch that.

[JessicaRabbit]

Beatles? Who are these Beatles you speak of?

:)

Happy Holidays to you all.

[Bucky Four-Eyes]

Jess...
'Tis with a heart full of holiday cheer that I tell you to suck it for that last comment. :)

[Nils]

Now, now, Buckster. We let the children believe that Paul McCartney was never in a band before Wings. And that Madonna wrote "American Pie" and the Fugees wrote "Killing Me Softly". If they learned how little creativity their generation actually has displayed, it would kill them. You kids run along and listen to your "music" that some dimwitted street thug "wrote" by using a "sampler". Us doddering old folks will be over in the corner with the real thing.

[Nessa]

your daughters are gorgeous! AND FUN! What an awesome letter!!!!