T'was
the night before Christmas, I just couldn't sleep,
So I hopped out of bed and
downstairs I did creep;
I went
to the kitchen in search of a bite,
If I filled up my stomach, perhaps I'd
sleep tight.

The
cupboard was empty, the fridge it was bare,
I searched but I couldn't find
food anywhere;
I looked out the window: streets covered with snow,
at two
in the morning now where could I go?

I
spied my computer, I will go bootup that ...
I'll take me online for some Christmas
Eve chat!
The modem connected without a delay,
In the blink of an eye, I'd
be chatting away.

But,
no voice bid me "Welcome" or said: "You've got mail"
And
I thought now's a bad time for my sound card to fail!
My buddy list opened
with not even one name,
Is everyone sleeping? Well, I'll go play a game.

I
couldn't get into Out Of Order or Slingo.
Strike A Match wouldn't work and
neither did Bingo!!
The chat rooms were empty! I thought: Wow, that's just
great—
AOL picked a fine time for another update.

IM's
weren't working, my mail wouldn't send,
I felt so alone, couldn't find even
one friend;
But wait! What's that sound? Did I hear something chime?
There's
someone else out there ... somebody's on-line!

In
wonder I read: "Hey — it's 3:53 —
Your
friends are all sleeping; that's where you should be!"
"Turn
off that 'puter, take your hand off that mouse,
I have a few things to drop
off at your house."

"You
know I can't stop there while you're still awake.
I have schedules to keep.
Come on ... Give Me A Break!"
If you really are Santa (that jolly,
old elf)
There's only one present I'd wish for myself.

The
folks on my buddy list — those friends far and near —
You just gather
them up and bring them right here;
In the flash of a moment, I awoke with a
start,
It was only a dream, I sighed, heavy of heart.

I
walked down the stairs and there 'round my tree,
Were all of the people I thought
I'd never see;
We laughed and we {{{{{hugged}}}}} and we had such a ball!
Hmmmmmm
... maybe it wasn't a dream after all.

~Author
Unknown

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas...Ana