by Andy Doty
With a fiber ring and coral zones, Bloomingdale's and monster homes, With oaks preserved and sidewalks clear, We build a bridge to another year. Twelve full months of news abounding-- Events that some found most astounding: Cops on bikes, Arastra sold, An alert new Daily, carports on hold. Med schools merging, speed limits raised, Tower Well bought, Tall Trees praised. Midtown resurgent, PAUSD schools growing, Jobs for the homeless, Simitian glowing. Dianne's retiring, Tiger Woods' scoring, Sher is promoted, Tuck and Patti are soaring. Biddle's suit amounts to naught; Serial rapist finally caught! All in all, a year to remember-- At least until the end of December. An economy based on the sale of espresso: If tastes should change--our surplus is less so. The Stanford gets an organ transplant; A magnificent fellow from a Packard grant. The Hyatt lives on, minus Romans in robes, A long line of statues never in vogue. The Axe retained despite the Weenies, Genencor opened via Stanford's Feeney. A host of Cardinals to Olympic stations; More coaches and players than many nations. Stanford to have its day in the Sun-- And maybe an evening of El Paso fun. Congratulations to Tyrone and crew For their escape from some very deep do. Elsewhere on campus, its ho hum and oh well, As another professor picks up his Nobel. Mountain View deaf to Shoreline bands That send their vibrations across the land-- Where Jim Lewis listens with cupped ear At the far corner of East Meadow and Greer. Another item quite worth noting: That rather puzzling Menlo voting. What other city could you meet That won't divert cars to another's streets? The message here is rather clear: Hope is 'oft undone by fear. Hats off again to the Y's Red Triangles, To Lives of Achievement and others we mangle In an effort to offer some fleeting tribute To those in town who deserve our salute. These lines also are meant to convey Greetings to all on their holiday; In a burst of earnest creativity We pause to observe that famous nativity As well as other revered observations, Major events and big celebrations. As Ninety-six slowly sinks in the West We wish you all well on your annual quest Of a season brimming with reunions and mirth, Of holiday feasts--with stabilized girth-- Of a time to relax with family and friends, To study the fire as another year ends.
Andy Doty, a Palo Alto resident, retired in 1993 as director of community relations at Stanford University, where he worked for 27 years. He is a member of the Weekly's Board of Contributors.
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