‘Twas two days before Christmas and o’r the Plateau,

I drive here and there, meeting people I know;

It’s still early evening as I drive down 410,

And cruise into Buckley where I stop quite often.

There’s the Bootlegger bar and Cindy is there,

The place is decked out in holiday fare;

While the Firehouse Pub also has a crowd,

You must scream to be heard ‘cuz the place is so loud;

It’s dinner time at Timberhouse, the lounge is quite gay,

But it isn’t the same since Michelle passed away.

Then I drive into Enumclaw, cruise through the town,

Cole Street is still open as people shop around;

So I park my old car and go for a walk,

Where I meet Mayor Reynolds and we share small talk.

Now within Suburban soul there are quite a few teens,

They mill ‘bout the store and finally buy jeans;

Sheena is quite happy

as I’m sure she would be,

And she laughs and waves Merry Christmas to me.

I step into the Shack to wish Craig Christmas cheer,

And he says he’ll soon buy me a holiday beer;

Then I look ‘cross the street and what should I see,

They’re working on the mall and it beckons to me.

I find Marilyn there in her jeans and sweatshirt,

She’s hanging sheetrock and is covered with dirt;

I suggest she go home and call it a night,

She agrees with a sigh turning off the work light;

She hopes to be open in two months or so,

The stalls will be rented and she’s ready to go.

A little further down Cole in Panini’s, find Phil,

He stands at the counter and rings up the till;

He shouts Christmas greetings, his wife does the same,

I’m ashamed to admit I’ve forgotten her name.

Trip Hart’s in the Mint with his Byways bunch,

They share a few pitchers and have pizza to munch;

While Tamra holds court in the venerable Lee,

She wears holiday clothes and sets a drink before me.

‘Cross the street and inside the rustic Ski Inn,

They hold a pool contest that Bob hopes to win;

And I talk with his wife while he shoots some pool

And I sit down beside her on a wobbly bar stool;

The bartender, Nikki, brings me a beer,

She’s colorfully dressed in seasonal cheer;

She has very dark eyes the deepest I’ve seen

And when she bends over, well, you know what I mean.

Now I wander the street and go back to my car,

Then I drive out of town to the Martini Bar;

And who should be there but old Robin Kahne,

When I sit down beside him he starts to complain

‘Bout some creative blocks in his artistic sphere,

So I offer advice to his receptive ear;

Then I wish Merry Christmas to lovely Justin,

Shake hands with some strangers and order more gin.

And now let me pause in my gay revelry,

To send you warm greetings where ‘er you might be;

May your season be filled with holiday cheer,

Have a most splendid Christmas and a happy New Year!