Okay another Christmas behind us, and another chance for you to try your poetry chops at the Clement Clarke Moore classic. And once again, you guys played full out and had a lot of fun.
The entries ranged from whimsical, to simply dreadful, to really clever. See them here: And I must say it was delightful to see so many of you working in elements from the work we do all year, showing you really are part of the community.
But let’s not keep you in suspense any longer. I know many of you are wondering if you won a night of hot steamy sex with me!
Honorable mention for stellar effort goes to Angela M.C.D’Alton, Greg M, Tess Katz, Joe, Sam Patton, and Cristina for slipping in a plug for Ron Paul! Likewise there were enchanting efforts from Jim Barber, MembershipJedi and the lovely and talented John Milton Fogg.
But after much deliberation, the winner is…
a tie between Brian Reeves and KimbraLee DeSantis!
Congratulations to them both. And I’m sure either would be disappointed if they had to fight over the 100K or the Viper instead of a night of steamy sex with me, so I’ve decided they will both receive honorable mention in this blog post!
Happy holiday everyone. I hope you’ll take this week as a chance to reflect on the year, build your dreams, and make plans for an amazing New Year!
-RG
Reader interactions
11 Replies to “And the Winner Is…”
Good call, Randy Claus! (I was hoping for honorable mention, but I’ll take “enchanting” any day of the week!) Happy New Year!
jim
Thanks again Randy!
I took a couple days off the computer to feed 50 people for Christmas Eve, sing a concert. But your Night before Christmas….was delightful. I needed the laugh. I thought I would share with you a poem written by a community I belong to. My 10yr. old is autistic. Your wisdom and encouragement really help me to think outside the box and never give up, to know that there are answers to every question and success behind every cloud.
Twas the Night Before Christmas
And all through the house
The creatures were stirring
Yes, even the mouse
We tried melatonin
And gave a hot bath
Asleep early for Christmas?
…an unlikely path
The children were finally
All nestled in bed
When visions of Christmas
Ran through my OWN head
Did I get the right gift?
The right color and style?
Would there be a blank stare
Or even, maybe, a smile?
Friends & family come
But they don’t understand
The pleasure he gets
Just from bending his hands.
“Just make him stop it,” some say
“Just tell him “no”,
You must learn to be tough..”
On, and on they do go…
We smile and nod
Because we know deep inside
The debate is moot
Let them all take a side
We know what it’s like
To live with the spectrum
The struggles and triumphs
Achievements, regressions….
But what some don’t know
And what some don’t see
Is the joy that we feel
Over simplicity.
He said “hello”!
He ate something green!
He looked me in my eyes
He did not cause a scene!
He peed on the potty!
Who cares if he’s ten;
He stopped saying the same thing
Again and again!”
Some others don’t realize
Just how we can cope
How we bravely hang on
At the end of our rope
But what they don’t see
Is the joy we can’t hide
When our children with autism
Make the tiniest stride
We may look at others
Without the problems we face
With envy, with wonder,
Or even distaste,
What we want them to know
What’s important to see
Is that children with autism
Bring simplicity.
We don’t get excited
Over expensive things
We jump for joy
With the progress work brings
Children with autism
Try so hard every day
That they make us proud
More than words can say.
They work even harder
Than you or I
To achieve something small
To reach a star in the sky
So to those who don’t get it
Or can’t get a clue
Take a walk in our shoes
And I’ll assure you…
That even 10 minutes
Into the walk
You’ll look at us all
With respect, even shock.
You will realize
What it is we go through
And the next time you see us
I can assure you
That you won’t say a thing
You’ll be quiet and learn,
Like the years I learned too
When the tables were turned.
“The person who says it cannot be done
should not interrupt the person doing it”
Thanks for the encouragement and my personal gain, you help me be a better person. x0x0x0x0x0x Kathleen
Randy… a story like this is really up your ally!
The Case For Ebeneezer Scrooge!!!
Newsletter type material.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/shaffer/shaffer93.html
Hey Randy,
Merry Christmas to you.
This is a great time for everyone to recharge and relax right before the new year. Figure out what your real WANT is, and then FOCUS on the target.
Make your 2010 big! Thanks for all that you do Randy!
Aaron
http://aaronchenonline.com
Just read your announcement Randy! And for the ‘honorable’ mention with my peer poet I am … so ‘honored’!!! 😉
Thank you for all the expansive thinking you share and for your endless work helping others slay the dragons of their limitations! And best of all … thanks for having a sense of humor while doing it and modeling how life is supposed to be lived … having FUN! I truly appreciate you!
Here’s to an AMAZING 2010!
KimbraLee =)
I was arrive to late…. oh! Oh my!
When out on the lawn, arose such a racket,
I am so sad now, emptiness in my heart pocket,
Looking after the beauty of life, where it is?
I was full enough to believe that there is bliss…
I can’t continue anymore, I’m not an English speaker, so I don’t want to spoil it, I love English!
Randy, I know that I am out of the subject, but I still need just a quarter of the prize to can live further… With all the shame that i feel, I must try to get out of my situation, so I give it a shoot…
I am now where you was once, so I hope that you will read this and, if it is possible, help me.
Here in my country it is hard to get up, but I will…
Blessings,
Kathleen~
Amazing poem. Much love and respect for what you endure in taking care of your son. Have a nephew with a lower level of autism – very challenging. Don’t know how my sister has done it all these years. Try the book To Love is to Be Happy With. Heard it’s excellent for parents with autistic children. Can’t say for sure, haven’t read it myself.
Sending you peace and prayers!
Linda Roach
Randy, Thank you for all that you do!!! I am just catching up on all the posts and I am sitting here in tears and laughter!!!
Kathleen, this poem is absolutely beautiful. As the mother of a six yr old son who has autism, every line resonated with me. As he runs around flapping and making all his “noises” it makes me smile, I am so glad God chose me to be his mom, even with all the fustrations and challenges. I would love to keep a copy and post and pass it on to others with your permission!
All the Best!
Nivia
Guys – I would also read SONRISE by the same author – Barry Neil Kauffman. It helped me tremendously turn a boy around with autism that I fostered…. All his self-destructive (hitting, beating head against the wall, rocking, ect) and growling behaviours stopped while I worked with him. It truly amazed me how it changed things for him.
xox
A night of hot steamy sex with you. Not on my bucket list.