V - Flicka Stuga at Christmas

Over the rivers (the Delaware, the Hudson, and several others)

And through the woods --and cities (of New York, Hartford, Boston, etc.)

To grandmother's house Flicka Stuga we go

[note: MorMor & MorFar's house was named, by them, when they built it, "Flicka Stuga," the Swedish for "Girl's House"... and it is aptly named]

Papi knows the way to drive the five

 Through the white and drifted snow, oh!

Over the river and through the wood

Oh how much work it takes --

To prep, and plan, and shop, and scam to create the Ho Ho Ho!

But, over the river and through the wood

Is the least that we can do --

{and this is where the emotions kick in and the whole lyric/rhyming thing starts to break down...}

For what we do is absolutely menial in comparison to what MorMor and MorFar do...

My parents. They love Christmas. They bring magic to the word magic. And they share it. But, the thing is, it isn't actually magic. It takes thought, time, energy, money, and most of all -- hearts of gold -- to make it all happen. My parents. They are, truly, an inspiration. I am learning from them. All that I can hope is that I will be able to carry it on for my children as my parents have done for me. The details are endless. Everywhere you look, every moment of each day spent, you see and feel what they have done to make Christmas Christmas. It is all meaningful. And for five people with the last name "Johnson-McCormick," it is all deeply appreciated.

Over the river and through the wood

to Flicka Stuga we go

Who knows what each day or year may bring?

So we savor these memories so.

Thank you Mom and Dad!

(and really, let's be honest-- MorFar is truly awesome, but MorMor is the Mastermind --- so, Mom, thanks especially to you at Christmastime. You are, for real, the best of the best.)