A Genealogist’s Christmas Eve

‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even my spouse.
The dining room table with clutter was spread,
With pedigree charts and with letters which said…

 

“Too bad about the data for which you wrote
Sank in a storm on an ill fated boat.”
Stacks of old copies of wills and the such,
Were proof that my work had become much to much.

 

Our children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.
And I at my table was ready to drop,
From work on my album with photos to crop.

 

Christmas was here, and of such was my lot,
That presents and goodies and toys I forgot.
Had I not been so busy with grandparent’s wills,
I’d not have forgotten to shop for such thrills.

 

While others had bought gifts that would bring Christmas cheer;
I’d spent time researching those birthdates and years.
While I was thus musing about my sad plight,
A strange noise on the lawn gave me such a great fright.

 

Away to the window I flew in a flash,
Tore open the drapes and I yanked up the sash.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear?
But an overstuffed sleigh and eight small reindeer.

 

Up to the housetop the reindeer they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys, and old Santa Claus too.
And then in a twinkle, I heard on the roof,
The prancing and pawing of thirty-two hoofs.

 

The TV antenna was no match for their horns,
And look at our roof with hoof-prints adorned.
As I drew in my head, and bumped it on the sash,
Down the cold chimney fell Santa – KER-RASH!

 

“Dear” Santa had come from the roof in a wreck,
And tracked soot on the carpet, (I could wring his short neck!)
Spotting my face, good old Santa could see,
I had no Christmas spirit you’d have to agree.

 

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, (I felt like a jerk).
Here was Santa, who’d brought us such gladness and joy;
When I’d been too busy for even one toy.

 

He spied my research on the table all spread,
“A genealogist!” He cried! (My face was all red!)
“Tonight I’ve met many like you”, Santa grinned.
As he pulled from his sack a large book he had penned.

 

I gazed with amazement – the cover it read:
“Genealogy Lines for Which You Have Plead.”
“I know what it’s like as a genealogy bug,”
He said as he gave me a a great Santa Hug.

 

“While the elves make the sleighful of toys I now carry,
I do some research in the North Pole Library!
A special treat I am thus able to bring,
To genealogy folks who can’t find a thing.

 

Now off you go to your bed for a rest,
I’ll clean up the house from this genealogy mess.”
As I climbed up the stairs full of gladness and glee,
I looked back at Santa who’d brought much to me.

 

While settling in bed, I heard Santa’s clear whistle,
To his team which then rose like the down of a thistle.
And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight,
“Family History is Fun! Merry Christmas! Goodnight!”

 

– Author Unknown

European Union Selects “Euro-English” over German

The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5- year phase-in plan that would become known as “Euro-English”.

In the first year, “s” will replace the soft “c”. Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard “c” will be dropped in favour of “k”. This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter. There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome “ph” will be replaced with “f”. This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.

In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.

Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.

Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent “e” in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.

By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing “th” with “z” and “w” with “v”.

During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary “o” kan be dropd from vords kontaining “ou” and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensibl riten styl.

Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.

Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas.