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AlwaysAbaco
11-30-2004, 05:09 PM
Some of you have seen this, but I wanted to share it again this season for any newcomers as well as those of you who have enjoyed it in the past! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are making preparations to enjoy your Christmas as well!


‘Twas an Abaco Christmas





'Twas an Abaco Christmas and all down the beach,

White sand stretched as far as it could reach.

The flippers were hung on the balcony with care,

In the hopes that Santa soon would drift there.



The Texans were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of Key Lime pie danced in their heads.

Bahama mama in her grass skirt and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long tropical nap.



When out in the night there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my hammock to see what was the matter.

Away to the screen door I flew like a flash,

Tore open the curtains and let out a gasp.



The moon on the water, how it did glow,

Giving a luster of midday to palm trees below.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature yacht out past the pier.



With a little old captain so lively and quick,

I thought for a moment, "Could it be St. Nick?"

More rapid than the waves, the dolphins they came

And he whistled and shouted and called them by name.



"Now Flipper, now Moby, now Sebastian and Willy,

On Flounder, on Orca, on Jaws and Charlie -

From the end of the pier to our port of call,

Now swim away, swim away, swim away all!"



And then in a twinkling I heard on the beach,

The chirping and chattering and splashing of each.

As I redrew the curtains and was turning around,

Through the front door St. Nicholas came with a bound.



Dressed in his trunks with a Kalik in his hand,

His feet were all covered with snow-like white sand.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a tourist just opening his pack.



His eyes - how they twinkle, his dimples how merry,

His cheeks were sunburned, his nose like a cherry.

His droll little mouth cracked a big smile,

The goatee on his chin, showed he could be kinda wild.



The snorkel he held tight in his teeth,

The mask it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a red face and a sunburned belly,

That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.



Trunks and a cold “Gold”, a strange old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

A flash of the peace sign and a nod of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.



He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the flippers, then turned with a jerk.

Now laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, out the door he goes.



He sprang to his yacht to his team gave a call,

And away they swam past the lighthouse and all.

But I heard him exclaim as he traveled out of sight,

"Christmas in Abaco, now that's doin' it right!"



-- Nick Campbell & Debby Midwood



18 days and slowly decreasing...

Islandgrl
12-03-2004, 06:09 PM
Loved the Poem! This will be our first Christmas in Abaco and we are most excited!! :)

Margaret malone
12-03-2004, 07:39 PM
Thanks for sharing the poem. I Loved it!
Do you or anyone else on the board know how to contact the author.

Legal Eagle
12-05-2004, 09:30 AM
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
> HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
> IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
> PLASTER AND STONE.
>
> I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
> WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
> AND TO SEE JUST WHO
> IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
>
> I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
> A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
> NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
> NOT EVEN A TREE.
>
> NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
> JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
> ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
> OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
>
> WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
> AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
> A SOBER THOUGHT
> CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
>
> FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
> IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
> I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
> ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
>
> THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
> SILENT, ALONE,
> CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
> IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
>
> THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
> THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
> NOT HOW I PICTURED
> A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
>
> WAS THIS THE HERO
> OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
> CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
> THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
>
> I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
> THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
> OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
> WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
>
> SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
> THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
> AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
> A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
>
> THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
> EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
> BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
> LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
>
> I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
> HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
> ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
> IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
>
> THE VERY THOUGHT
> BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
> I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
> AND STARTED TO CRY.
>
> THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
> AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
> "SANTA DON'T CRY,
> THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
>
> I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
> I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
> MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
> MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
>
> THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
> AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
> I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
> I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
>
> I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
> SO SILENT AND STILL
> AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
> FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
>
> I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
> ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
> THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
> SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
>
> THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
> WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
> WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
> IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
>
> ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
> AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
> "MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
> AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."
>
> This poem was written by a Marine. The
> following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....
>
> PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending
> this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon
> and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able
> to celebrate these festivities.Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit
> of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead,
> who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this
> small seed.





David "Chaplin Dave" Bates

AlwaysAbaco
12-07-2004, 05:08 PM
Thanks for sharing the poem. I Loved it!
Do you or anyone else on the board know how to contact the author.
Hi Margaret,
Yes, I am one of the authors and the other is one of my best friends. My family has been going to Marsh Harbour every other year over Christmas and New Year's since 1986. We wrote this in early December of 2000 before my friend was to join us for his first trip over Christmas that year. He went with us again 2 years ago and had intended to go this year, but is unable to due to some unforseen family losses.

What else can I help you with?

......just over 10 days, a night in FLL, a quick flight to MHH and a short taxi ride to Regattas.... I can almost hear the palms trees rattle in the breeze, smell the salt air, see the light blink across from Hopetown, feel the fine white sand between my toes and taste the bread and Vernon's key lime pie!

AbacoSusie
12-07-2004, 06:07 PM
Thanks For Posting Again.

Margaret malone
12-07-2004, 06:38 PM
Thank you for the information. A real estate company would like to use it and asked me to try and find the author. If you would like to contact them it is michael@hgchristie.com.
Have a wonderful vacation in Abaco!

AlwaysAbaco
12-08-2004, 01:08 PM
Thank you for the information. A real estate company would like to use it and asked me to try and find the author. If you would like to contact them it is michael@hgchristie.com.
Have a wonderful vacation in Abaco!
Thanks for asking Margaret. I've sent a note to my friend and will try to talk to him tonight. Then will get in touch with them via the address you posted. Are they friends of yours? and what area of the country are they in?

AlwaysAbaco
12-14-2004, 11:51 AM
Thanks for asking Margaret. I've sent a note to my friend and will try to talk to him tonight. Then will get in touch with them via the address you posted. Are they friends of yours? and what area of the country are they in?
Hi Margaret,
Just wanted to let you know that I sent an email to your friends this morning. Please let me know if they don't receive it. Thanks! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you!

4 days left and they can't go fast enough for me....