Thursday, December 29, 2011

34 Years of Christmas Poems: 1999


The end of the century and the beckoning of the new millennium. The end of my old life also was on the horizon. Under sad, depressing emotions and harsh economics, we had decided to divorce. The question that remained as everything sped towards that conclusion was whether we would be able to sell the house, pay of all debts and survive the process in the upcoming year.

I was more scared than I had ever been in my life. That includes almost physically dying twice in my younger days. I didn't know if I would make it. Regardless, the end of the year called for another poem and the theme presented itself as straightforward as any ever had.

Can you sense that all is well? Do you believe that all is well?

The spiritual work continued, requiring a leap of faith. It came down to choice, as it always does and always will.

Christmas 1999
by
Richard Perrotti


Evergreen’s fresh and fragrant cachet,
The eggnog smells rather “potent.”
Sweet aroma of cookies wafting about,
One could say that Christmas is scent.

E-commerce, malls and the one “perfect gift.”
Constant tracking of all monies spent.
Credit cards flying and still we keep buying,
And Christmas is driven by cents.

Holiday cards, letters, packages galore;
“Seasons Greetings” they all represent.
Descend like an avalanche that flows through the mail,
Simply Christmas, delivered and sent.

A cacophony of carols, the twinkling of lights,
The holiday meals succulence,
The ripping of wrapping, the breaking of bows;
Seems Christmas is all about sense.

In quieter moments, withdrawn from the clamor,
We ponder, “How did this all begin?”
Memories awaken of innocence and light
And we access the Christmas within.

The Christmas within simply makes no “sense,”
Sights and sounds are not part of the plan.
It cannot be touched nor tasted nor smelled.
But feel it? You most certainly can.

It’s choosing to “see,” to trust, to believe
That All Is inherently Well.
That thought being borne, each bright Christmas morn
Will Peace and Love foretell.


December 1999; the 20th century expires:
2nd - The United Kingdom devolves political power in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Executive.
3rd - NASA loses radio contact with the Mars Polar Lander moments before the spacecraft enters the Martian atmosphere.
7th - The RIAA files a lawsuit against the Napster file-sharing client, on charges of copyright infringement.
17th - The United Nations General Assembly passes resolution 54/134 designating November 25 as the annual International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women.
18th - NASA launches into orbit the Terra platform carrying five Earth Observation instruments, including ASTER, CERES, MISR, MODIS and MOPITT.
20th - Portugal returns Macau to China
21st - The Spanish Civil Guard intercepts a van loaded with 950 kg of explosives that ETA intended to use to blow up Torre Picasso in Madrid.
22nd - The Spanish Civil Guard finds near Calatayud (Zaragoza) another van loaded by ETA with 750 kg of explosives (see related event on December 21, 1999).
26th - Severe weather in France kills over 100 people and causes extensive damage to property, trees and the French national power grid (see Lothar).
28th - Saparmurat Niyazov is proclaimed President for Life in Turkmenistan.
31st - Control of Panama Canal reverts to Panama
31st - Boris Yeltsin resigns as President of Russia, leaving Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as the acting President.

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