The Singer Writes Her Christmas Letter: A Poem

Dear family and friends
and all those others I send
a letter and a Christmas card
to each year,
though it's sometimes hard
to remember how I know you,
but I thought you'd like to hear
how awesome my life has been
since the last Christmas letter I sent

I'm so happy now 
that you wouldn't recognize me
if you saw me walking down the street
Last week, I had an epiphany
Life is too short not to follow your dreams
and it's no fun at all
to be hindered by reality
I had a deep look into my soul
and settled on my life's goal
I was born to be a singer

I know what you might be thinking
"How much has she been drinking?"
Nothing at all, I assure you
(aside from my usual glass or two)
And while this dream might seem new
it's something I've always wanted to do
though I don't have a great sense of rhythm
and can't always tell one note from another
Practice makes perfect
Talent can be learned
I just have to work at it

I've made my commitment
to my new career path
and shocked my whole department
at work when I said at the Christmas party
I was done at the end of the year
then made my debut singing karaoke 
in the conference room
Several coworkers pulled me aside
and told me to give it some thought
and that singing wasn't a good thing for me to do
They were so sad to see me leave
You should have heard them plead

Yes, I suppose it's true
that I wasn't sure where to start
Anyone these days can upload a video
and try to gain a following
who will make them a star
I prefer the in-person touch
I had the idea while out for lunch
at that fancy restaurant
where a man in a tuxedo plays
the grand piano in the corner
I got up from my table and stood near him
I took a deep breath and was ready to begin

He was playing Christmas carols
and I sang along
I got almost all of the "Fa-la-la-la-la"s
in the right places
A few people were making faces
(I think they weren't pleased
with their menu choices)
You should hear how loud my voice is
in that high-ceilinged room
even with the crowd noise around noon

At the end of a song
the manager asked me to leave
He said I was disturbing the guests
They probably had never heard
a voice like mine before
I agreed it was best for me to go
and leave them wanting more
I was already out the door
before I realized I didn't pay for my meal
My first earnings as a singer!
See, it's all becoming real

I wish you all the best for the new year
and hope someday you will hear
me singing on the radio or in a concert hall
Music is my life; I'm giving it my all
When I'm rich and famous
this letter will be worth something someday
What a valuable gift I'm giving you
if you can bear to part with it someway