Out with the old, quickly
Well, what will we toast to on this New Year’s Eve?
Other than waiting for the old year to leave?
Father Time’s out the door, never up to the task
Baby new year arrives, and he’s wearing a mask.
2020 is gone and we’re sure not bereft
Now, we pick up the pieces, and there isn’t much left.
Missing in action are the things that we’ve known
Like haircuts and movies, dinner parties at home.
And just meeting friends for a laugh and a drink,
Would be a small pleasure again — don’t ya think?
The new year I hope makes us older and wiser
Yet we’re solely dependent on Moderna and Pfizer
To restore the lifestyle I barely remember
Way back before March and now right through December.
Here’s what’s been missing since that preCOVID life
I’ve not hugged a soul but my dog and my wife.
There’s a reason for that at this time — no disgrace
From 6 feet apart, you’d fall flat on your face.
And then there’s my wardrobe, my wife likes this lots
Dressing for dinner means sweats with no spots.
And to eat at a table — not for us — no siree
On the couch, with a bib, and Netflix TV.
We save money by eating at home. We’re less troubled
Except for the fact that our booze bill has doubled.
But to drink a Manhattan is good, and to boot
It comes with a cherry, so I’m eating more fruit.
This holiday season, of course, is surreal
And like everyone else we bemoan, “What’s the deal?”
Families who usually are all in one room
Are left to communicate by just using Zoom.
Loved ones divided in boxes and pairs
Like a modern-day version of “Hollywood Squares.”
Zoom has arrived and there’s really no stoppin’ it
My deepest regret is I didn’t buy stock in it.
Brighter days are ahead for next year — this one’s cursed
But before we look forward, let’s look backward first.
Gone in the backlash of COVID-19
Are places that so much were a part of the scene.
The Cliff House and Alfred’s and Lefty O’Doul’s
All gone — couldn’t play by today’s set of rules.
Here in Marin we said bye to some faves
Wildfox and Benissimo went to their graves.
Three Twins Ice Cream unfortunately strode
off to the sunset on a real rocky road.
Neiman Marcus, J Crew, GNC and Pier 1
All filed for bankruptcy — in essence, they’re done.
Fans of our sports teams are down in the dumps.
The Niners and Giants have taken their lumps.
The Sharks have no clue of where they might play
And the Warriors suffer from no feet of Klay.
We had an election, too — what a relief
Let’s welcome in our new commander-in-chief.
But, darn it. The rascal who now sits in that seat
Refuses to recognize he’s had his butt beat.
He still clings to the hope he has beaten his foe
While the courts all agree that he simply must go.
What does next year bring is the common refrain.
There’s a light in the tunnel that I hope’s not a train.
There’s a thought that right now, if we all get in lineT here’s a shot that is waiting to make us all fine.
My hope for the new year at the first morning’s dawn
Is that hope is upon us and this year is gone.