A Poem For A Friday

The Meeting
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

After so long an absence
      At last we meet again:
Does the meeting give us pleasure,
      Or does it give us pain?

The tree of life has been shaken,
      And but few of us linger now,
Like the Prophet's two or three berries
      In the top of the uttermost bough.

We cordially greet each other
      In the old, familiar tone;
And we think, though we do not say it,
      How old and gray he has grown!

We speak of a Merry Christmas
      And many a Happy New Year
But each in his heart is thinking
      Of those that are not here.

We speak of friends and their fortunes,
      And of what they did and said,
Till the dead alone seem living,
      And the living alone seem dead.

And at last we hardly distinguish
      Between the ghosts and the guests;
And a mist and shadow of sadness
      Steals over our merriest jests.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Simon, Kelly, and Merwin's tennis balls.

1 Merwin 'Til Christmas

Waiting for Santa.

2 Merwins 'Til Christmas

He doesn't mess around when he flies.

3 Merwins 'Til Christmas

Tasty stuffed toy.

4 Merwins 'Til Christmas

It's like his head is just too heavy or something.

5 Merwins 'Til Christmas

He relaxes strangely.

6 Merwins 'Til Christmas

Find the Merwin, Part 2.

7 Merwins 'Til Christmas

Find the Merwin.

8 Merwins 'Til Christmas

Rake supervising from his perch.

9 Merwins 'Til Christmas

"This is unacceptable."

10 Merwins 'Til Christmas

I generally hate human appearances in these things, but this is just too ridiculous to pass up.

11 Merwins 'Til Christmas

Yet another strange pose.

12 Merwins 'Til Christmas

Water dog.

13 Merwins 'Til Christmas

I don't even know how many legs this dog has.

14 Merwins 'Til Christmas

A special treat for the TWO WEEK mark!

15 Merwins 'Til Christmas

Fishing supervisor

16 Merwins 'Til Christmas

So comfy?

17 Merwins 'Til Christmas

When one of us is out of the house, you will find him watching the door. For hours. And hours.

18 Merwins 'Til Christmas

This is Merwin and his two friends passed out. Wild animals.

19 Merwins 'Til Christmas

He's a maniac in the snow.

20 Merwins 'Til Christmas

That's pretty close.

21 Merwins 'Til Christmas

Does not play well with others

22 Merwins 'Til Christmas

Sunset at Spy Pond in Arlington

23 Merwins 'Til Christmas

Merwin being Merwin

24 Days Of Merwin

Here we are again at my favorite time of year. Just like in 2011 and 2012, we'll count down the days until Christmas with photos of the dog. Just normal, usual, every day human behavior. Nothing to see here...

Our opening day features a staged shot of Merwin sleep snuggling his favorite new mouse toy.