The season’s upon us,
With branches and holly,
Menorahs and mistletoe,
Time to be jolly.
Let’s clink glasses to Herb,
Who lives on in time,
A wizard of words,
A master of rhyme.
Here’s to all the good folks,
Like our fine Mayor Newsom,
And his beautiful bride,
No longer a twosome.
And to Harris, Hellman, Herrera,
Hennessey, Shultz, Speier,
DiFi, Brown, Pelosi,
Hayes-White—give a cheer!
For Alioto, Andrews, Anton,
Bakker, Baker, Baer,
Bakar, Barcun, Barber,
Chases, Clara, Claire.
Add Taliaferro, Bingham, Blackburn,
Blum, Biederbeck, Bowles,
Boas, Bechtle, Brady,
Jewett, Joey, Joel(s).
Renee, Renne, Ramsey,
Yankee, Young, Donna,
Karin, Lucie, Arlene,
Annie, Anette, Tatiana.
Bradstreet, Breyer, Bransten,
Burstein, Post rate high,
Zecher, Callan, Christy,
Coblentz, Collins, Bley.
Carolyne, Catherine, Carl,
Coyote, Anastasia,
Gladys, Glady, Garchik,
Their talents will amaze ya.
Please note from verses past,
One name stands for a family,
Don’t forget this small detail,
Or I’ll be in a jam-ily.
Hats off to Shansby, Schwab, Raiser,
Dolby, Delia, Levin,
Wilsey, Getty, Goldman,
Philanthropy is in.
Think Friese, Fisher, Joyner,
Horning, Wornick, Vinson,
Debenham, de Limur, de Baubigny,
Swanson, Schwabacher, Sprincin.
More: Halsted, Huntting, Schraeger,
Osher, Vecino, Felson,
Swig, Silbert, Kramer,
Moldaw, Newman, Nelson.
Hail to Zellerbach, Grotts, Glasser,
Clarissa, Diana, Daru,
Stewart, Jordan, Johns,
Scotty, Tom, and Drew.
Cheers for Coralyn, Coulter, Fenton,
Friend, Mariani, Mariano,
Dohrmann, Dryden, Doll,
Swing, Lucretia & John-o.
Then there’s Beth, Belva, Georgia,
Stacey, Margot, Meagan,
Mara, Munson, Murer,
Robinson, Hensley, Hagan.
Yurie, Denise, Danielle,
Nonie, Toni, Elina,
Eleni, Elisa, Ruthe,
Lori, Lucia, Gina.
Rejoice with Rubin, Rosen, Riggs,
James, Joy, JaMel,
Jean, Jeanne, Jo, Jan,
Harriet, Pasha, Genelle.
For Kefalas, Gotti, Gatti,
Farris, Farrow, Fountain,
Poland, Powell, Powers,
We’ll climb up any mountain.
Ditto Guggenhime, Grodsky, Gammill,
Rosekrans, Marcus, Gracie,
Jackson, Jarman, Sykes,
George, Johnson, Tracy.
Mink, Matarasso, Domush,
Werdegar, Glogau, Edell,
Kerner, Karen, Ostroff,
You docs sure keep us well!
Plus Davis, Ristow, Owsley,
Saitowitz, Seymour, Schwartz,
Ornish, Anthony, Gilbert,
Never out of sorts.
For Horn, Hardy, Heide, Hooker,
Ludwig, Lurie, Banks,
Magnin, Mardikian, Millard,
Marston—we give thanks.
Masonek, McCormick, McKeen as well,
Mittel, McEvoy, McBaine,
McKeon, Michael, Morris,
Kaufman, Kramlich, Caen.
Opperman, Osgood, Pritzker,
LaFollette, LaMotte, Lee,
Lazarus, Lucas, Turks,
Sockolov, Skurman, Fee.
Hugs to Huggins, Cella, Taylor,
Dossetter, Saroyan, Hays,
Tamagni, Mosk/Foutch, Black,
Schlumberger, Stein & May(s).
Sweeney, Sullivan, Stone,
Elia, Tenenbaum, Traina,
Willenborg, Wagner, Wilkes,
Vera, Vobach, Melina.
Boardman, Baxter, Gabany,
May your holiday be a ball;
Layne, Leitstein, de Guigné,
LeDuc and Dan McCall.
Raise a glass of bubbly,
To Gold, Goss, Grimes,
Plant, Moose, Pyle,
And an end to these silly rhymes.
A nod to Marty, Moore, MTT,
Dooley, Williams, Wahl,
Lewis, Leftwich, Hill,
Let us hope—that’s all!
A final toast to Lois, and
The great Gazette’s top team,
To all—a joyful holiday,
May peace fulfill your dream.
Merla Zellerbach was a Chronicle columnist for 23 years, and is the author of 13 books, including her newest romance whodunit, Mystery of the Mermaid. She was also editor of the Nob Hill Gazette for 12 years. Her new book is available (in time for Xmas) from Books, Inc. in Laurel Village. She’ll also be speaking at Book Passage in Marin at 4 pm January 23.
