Thanksgiving Eve

'Twas the night before Thanksgiving when all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, 'cept maybe an unwanted mouse,

The turkey was brining on the deck in a bucket with care,

In hopes that our whole cray-awesome fam soon would be there,

The Lindstedts were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of green bean casserole danced in their heads,

Kelly in her sweats, and Ryan his old smelly cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

We sprang from my bed to see what was the matter,

Away to the window we flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash,

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to our wondering eyes did appear,

But our turkey out-of-bucket running in fear,

With a massive raccoon so lively and quick,

Following our bird looking for a tasty nip,

More rapid than eagles that 'coon was in chase,

"But that turkey is mine!" I bellowed in bass,

So up to the housetop the bird and 'coon flew,

With Ryan and I following too,

We heard them up there all in a hustle,

I grabbed my glass of wine and got ready for a tussle,

And then, in a twinkling, I saw it go down,

That son of a B was going to take my bird and get outta town,

As I crawled up a ladder and was turning around,

Up came Ryan and dogs with a bound,

With Bridger behind and Luna ahead,

That dumbass 'coon looked on with dread,

That fur-ball dropped our turkey and fled in a hurry,

While we checked over our bird with such very great worry,

But to our delight it was perfectly fine,

Ready to go back in and finish the brine,

Just as we headed back to our super warm bed,

I noticed an odd thing that has stuck in my head,

Our turkey he sighed in his bucket-y home,

With much less to worry about after his roam,

I heard him exclaim as he chilled out of sight,

“Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good night!”

When all is said and done:  Remember to be thankful.  Not just for what you have, who you know, or how you live... but for the cross and everlasting peace.

Happy Thanksgiving friends and fam!  

Love!