THOUGHTS - "Second Annual Belated Christmas Letter "

January 7, 2003

That's right folks! It's Ryan Jahnke's Second Annual Belated Christmas Letter. At first I felt ashamed for not finishing this on time for the second year in a row. But then, I had a revelation! Well, it's not like my eyes glazed over as I fell into a deep sleep while seeing sparkly lights. Instead, I decided to embrace my deadline-challenged soul instead of shunning it. Why should my letter be the straw that breaks the camel's back for those poor postmen this Christmastime? Maybe because of me, they were protected from harsh winter conditions even 10 seconds more than they would have been. I could cry just thinking about my benevolent deed. Besides, everyone else sends out cards that celebrate Christmas. Why not celebrate some day in January? How about the 18th? (I hope I'm celebrating on the 18th :-)

Another hindrance to the completion of this letter was I wanted to write it all in verse. After that sat unfinished on my hard drive for several weeks, I realized that idea was turning out to be quite a curse! So here we go, my dear friend, to see what this past year to me did send!

One of the most important of Life's gifts came to me on June 1st,
Her name is Tashiana and I love her so much I could burst.
We started with our wedding day,
A beautiful and grandiose display.
Marriage is definitely the way to go,
But obviously two becoming one is sometimes slow.
So through busy schedules, summer school and skate,
We still made time for an occasional date.
We've tried Mexican, Moroccan, and Indian too!
And we're still trying to be vegans through and through.
My travels reached a climax this year in Helsinki,
I skated great but instead of their fish I'd rather eat a twinkie.
The feast at our home on Thanksgiving was a riot,
Unfortunately most of the food was not on our diet!
Some talk of children but we say not yet,
I think we need a dog, we'll first practice on a pet!
We were blessed with both sets of parents being nearby this holiday season,
Their invaluable help with home improvements to me was so pleasin'.
I've got some new tricks in my repertoire of skating,
So for Nationals to peak around the corner I've been waiting and waiting.
Be watching your T.V. on Jan. 18th to see if I'm there,
And when you see me lift up a prayer.
Thank you, all of you, for being a blessing to me,
And because of that a blessing on your life there will be!

Tashiana and I hope you have a great new year. I look forward to seeing or hearing from you when possible.

Love,
Ryan

For tax deductible donations to assist Ryan's skating, send donations payable to the New England Amateur Skating Foundation (NEASF) P.O. Box 6881, Providence, RI 02940. Please include Ryan's name on a separate piece of paper, not on the check itself.

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