Gifts that Inspire

I had a love/hate relationship with my Christmas presents this year. Sure, Santa was good to me, but he was also probably chuckling as I unwrapped some of my gifts. Tucked in among the sweaters, scarves, and other useful items was my first digital reader and what my cellular provider calls a smart phone. I soon learned that being a smart phone didn’t mean it would be any less challenging for me to master. Hey, I belong to the old school generation, so give me a break!


Even with all my concerns, upon seeing the Kindle I jumped to my feet and stomped out an Irish jig. Then fear set in again, for my track record wasn’t too good when it came to anything technological.

But being a writer I decided to put my experience into words. Below is my adaption of Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Christmas Morning

By Pamela Varnado

Twas Christmas morning and all through my house,

Nothing was clicking, not even my computer mouse.

The presents were wrapped and sat under the tree,

Ribboned and bowed with much love and much glee.

My family was up and out of their beds,

While visions of Christmas dinner swirled in their heads.

My husband in his plush robe, and I in my Tee,

Had just settled down for a hot cup of coffee.

When out in the family room there arose such a shout,

I sprang to my feet to see what it was about.

Across the tile and the carpet I flew in a flash

And raced in to see what was happening at the speed of a dash

When, what to my amazement did I see,

But presents wrapped up under the Christmas tree just for me.

My son Joel did a little dance, so lively and quick,

And shouted, “Look Mama, there’s gifts from St. Nick”.

Some of the packages were large and very hard to lift,

But he laughed and he danced as he passed out each gift.

Here Mama! Here Papa! Here Christina and Lily!

For Triston! For Ivan! For Andrew and Billy!

From my lap to my head my stack of presents did rise,

Until I thought they would surely end in the sky.

So I ripped off the wrappings in lickety-split.

As I basked in the warmth from the fireplace pit.

And then, my heart skipped more than a couple of beats,

As I beheld my first digital reader, what a magnificent feat.

I drew in a breath, my joy so wondrous and complete,

That I thought I would float right off of my feet.

My Kindle was sleek and fit right in my hand,

With a 6 inch Display and New E Ink Pearl Technology it could only be called grand.

I stood to my feet and I raced to my office,

I needed to hurry up and plug it in to charge it.

My eyes, how they twinkled as I stared down with pleasure!

And oohed and aahed over my WI-FI ready treasure!

After a while it was charged and ready to go,

So I flipped on the switch and smiled at the screen’s glow.

I spoke not a word, as I studied the User’s Guide,

For this Christmas I was determined to make such great strides.

I played with my new toy like a ten year old girl,

Pushed buttons and selected menus all the time doing a swirl.

I downloaded Blessings in Disguise and Daughter of the Wind,

Notorious Eliza, Hot Spanish Nights, and one of my favorite’s Blood Sin,

A press of my finger and out flowed Evil’s Witness, Tripping through Time, and Rx for Trust,

And, of course, my own story After Glow was a must.

Nestled in my favorite recliner I browsed and I read.

Until finally I realized this technology was nothing to dread.

I was soon ready to tackle things even more challenging, it’s true.

Like smart phones and IPads and future technology, too.

They allow me to reach out in ways I thought never to do,

To add a humanizing factor to gigabytes and electronic paper, to name a few

Now with pictures and stories and online greeting cards I can say,

Happy holidays to all, and to all a have a great day!