Siriusly

In the car, our radio 

Has stations we adore 

From a company called Sirius,

Which we pay extra for.

As Sirius subscribers

We get classical and blues,

Plus the Beatles and a lot of

Rock and roll from which to choose.

But on New Year’s eve, our signal 

(For it’s satellite deployed)

Just stopped working and so Poof!

There went the music we enjoyed.

Since it’s holiday, we couldn’t 

Reach a person to assist

And the helpline couldn’t help us,

Not an unexpected twist.

We will follow up tomorrow,

Though the irony, to me,

Is that we had no such problems

When our radio was free!

Good Riddance 2022

Good riddance 2022!

I’m glad to see you go,

But maybe from your negatives

Some joy will start to flow.

 

A brand new year begins with hope;

The slate is fresh and clean,

So happiness may yet become

A part of our routine.

 

No illnesses, no canceled flights,

No hatred, anger, death –

Just sweetness and a sense of peace

Imbuing every breath.

 

Though optimism isn’t

Something natural for me,

Perhaps life will be much improved

In 2023.

The Game of Life

My son looked through the board games 

And he chose the Game of Life,

Where people-pegs must navigate 

Through times of joy and strife.

My grandkids bought insurance,

Found a spouse and had some kids,

Took a job and earned enough to

Be quite rich or on the skids.

It was fun to watch their styles,

Taking risks or laying low

And they loved to sue each other,

Though the tears would sometimes flow.

Yet the 9 year old did question 

Why the winner at the end

Was the one who had the biggest

Pile of money he could spend.

He insisted that in life

Mere money shouldn’t be the judge 

Of what really is important

As through ups and downs we trudge.

I was thrilled at that conclusion

But I laughed when, in a flash,

He declared himself the winner

After counting out his cash.

G Day

Most Jewish people name their kids

For someone who’s deceased,

Or if they don’t, their first initial

Might be used, at least.

My father, George, was born today

In 1924,

Though when my son was born 

He wasn’t with us anymore. 

So Geoffrey, spelled the English way,

As tribute to my dad,

Is here with me today, a date

That’s always somewhat sad.

Of course, my father’s on my mind 

But life makes its demands 

And George would be delighted by

Both Geoffrey and the grands.

A Change of Plans

My son and family’s flight was one

Of many not to fly.

Instead they found a place to drive 

And thus avoid the sky -

An indoor water park not far

From where we have a place,

So very soon I’ll get to see

Each grandkid’s smiling face.

We had the driveway paved of snow

And shopped for food and snacks.

There will be nothing now that 

This vacation really lacks.

A change of plans may disappoint 

But sometimes, as they say,

A silver lining may appear

To brighten up the day.

Fabrication

When running for office,

You might as well lie

For nobody cares about truth,

And if you are caught

And reporters ask Why?

You can blame it on errors from youth.

 

A lie isn’t merely

“A poor choice of words,”

Which reminds me of “alternate facts.”

The political climate,

With tweets like the birds,

Doesn’t worry how someone reacts.

 

So a twist of a phrase,

Using “Jew-ish” instead

Of denying your claim as a Jew

May assuage any guilt

Over things that you said,

But no job should be given to you!

 

*George Santos, Republican U.S. Representative-elect,

has admitted to fabricating key details of his biography.

A Gift for Myself

I needed a pick-me-up present

But couldn’t rely on an elf,

So I found what I wanted on Etsy

And ordered a gift for myself.

 

The crafter is stationed in Ireland

So when it was several days late,

I figured that holiday madness

Meant that I should be patient and wait.

 

Today, though, with patience rewarded,

A package arrived; there were cheers

From my husband, who noticed the dangling

As Guinness pints sway from my ears.