Message of good cheer

To wish you well at this year’s end.

You may recall, I stole a page

From the late Herb Caen, the Ess Eff sage.

And so I will try to the end the year

With a copycatted message of good cheer.

Let me start by sending season’s greetings

And thanks to those who keep on reading:

David Altscher, Barb Valley and Jim Cunneen —

Thoughtful thoughts, and never mean.

Sue Mallet and John Francis Quinlan,

Karl Sonkin and Mary Morrissey Parden,

Ray Fowler, John Baker and Dirk van Ulden,

They sign their names with the words they leave,

Anonymous comments being my latest pet peeve

Much has been said about transportation,

But let’s take a moment for recognition

Of our transit execs who work so hard —

(ferries) Seamus Murphy, (SamTrans) April Chan,

And (Caltrain) Michelle Bouchard.

For those who fill the political ranks,

Agree or not, they deserve our thanks:

Kevin Mullin and Diane Papan,

(and sister Gina — both serving in the spirit of their dad),

Josh Becker and Marc Berman,

Ron Collins and James Coleman,

Emily Beach, Donna Colson,

Michael Brownrigg, and Diane Howard,

Julia Mates, Rich Hedges.

They keep our cities from

Falling off ledges.

Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller

And Tygarjas Twyrls Bigstyck.

I couldn’t rhyme the last few, so take your pick.

And those who put their names on the ballot,

An action I always will see as gallant,

Including the fresh, new faces

Of those in the District 4 supes races:

Lisa Gauthier and Paul Bocanegra,

Maggie Cornejo and Lopez (Antonio)

How this race will end, nobody can know.

And in District 2, who has reemerged

But Jackie Speier, facing Ann Schneider,

Whose own ambitions will not be submerged.

And the candidates running for Congress,

Topped by Joe Simitian, Sam Liccardo and Evan Low,

And some other candidates, 10, no less.

Plus Jerry Hill is running for Democratic Central Committee,

for reasons somewhat unknown.

Some labor on issues far and wide,

Sometimes from the inside, some outside:

David Burruto and Rhovy Lyn,

And Fixin’ SMC’s Nancy Goodban

Good-hearted Mike Callagy and the plumbers’ Mark Birri,

Charles Stone, Joe Goethals and Michael Murray.

If it’s business interests you want espoused,

Look no further than Rosanne Foust.

And that’s not to neglect the Political Lunch Bunch:

Nicole Fernandez, Don Cecil and Julie Lind,

Whose political acumen has no end.

And these astute thinkers, my political muse(s): 

John Flaherty, George Marcus

Joe Cotchett and Mary Hughes.

There is life beyond political campaigns,

And here are some from whom I repeatedly gain

In friendship and camaraderie

Dennis McBride, Ed Schweitzer and Rich Healy,

Not to mention swim coaches Tom Reudy and Kirk,

Derek and Cesar — they all make us work.

There’s the gang at Luigi’s,

Where the past and pasta are both well-met:

Mike Scanlon, Chuck Harvey,

Dave Miller and Jim Hartnett.

And the voluble group we call the Gezzers:

Joe F., Rob C., Dick B. and Clem M.

I don’t know where I’d be without ’em.

When it comes to good works,

I am one lucky fellow

To know the Bay Area Cancer Connections team,

Led by ED Rina Bello.

We all must recognize the contributions

Of some of our favorite local institutions

Tim and Stephanie Harrison at Canyon Inn,

B Street Books and Harry’s Hofbrau

The Guild in Menlo Park, revitalized now.

And Alpio Barbara at Redwood General Tire,

Who has moved on, but has hardly retired

We denizens of Crestmoor High,

2024 is the year we say goodbye

To that campus with the wind-blown view

For all who wore the gold and blue.

Phylis Banning, Jody Rose-Dressler

Don Thompson, and Don Wright —

Just to name a few Falcons true.

It would be a mistake infernal

To fail to mention the Daily Journal

And the team on hand to print the news,

Unbiased, honest and no imposed views:

Sierra Lopez, Holly Rusch, Alyse DiNapoli,

Terry Bernal, Sports Editor Nate Mollat,

Assistant Editor Erik Oeverndiek, Editor Jon Mays

and Publisher Jerry Lee

Finally, Rep. Anna Eshoo should be extolled

Not only for years of service but her heart of gold

And even as her term will end,

I remain honored to be her friend.

Well, that’s it, my friends, there is no more.

Goodbye 2023, hello 2024.

Mark Simon is a veteran journalist, whose career included 15 years as an executive at SamTrans and Caltrain. He can be reached at marksimon@smdailyjournal.com.