Op/Ed

Published: Nonember 19, 2007

  

 

 

      'Twas the week before Christmas and all thru the sight

        the crews were still working with all of their might,

        engineers hoisting cement, steel, and wood,

        and unloading trucks where the flag person stood. 

        Rod men were tying and carpenters drove nails,

        electricians were wiring, there were men laying rails. 

        The work would continue up into the night,

        but everything stopped for an incredible site.

        Just past the boom and over our head,

        We could see Santa Claus was landing his sled.

        Everyone ran over without hesitation

        to check out more of this strange situation.

 

        Santa just said "I'm using these stations,

        to shake out my loads in strategic locations,

        to deliver it all in one night is a burden,

        and for the past fifty years my back has been hurtin".

        Everyone laughed for they knew what he meant

        He gained so much weight the sleighs rudders were bent.

        Now I've worked in the cold but I never felt a chill

        when up on the man lift came Safety Bill.

        "This sleigh is unsafe it's a hazard contraption,"

        No one expected his angry reaction.

        "You're flying all day and into the night,

        the loads not tied off, and you haven't a light.

 

        Santa just said with a few HO HO HO's,

        "come over here Rudolph and show him your nose."   

        Bill said "it glows like a light, but I'll prove that it's not.

        "You won't see a thing when it's covered with snot,

        I'll cut you a break and I will not impound it,

        but until this sleigh's safe it's definitely grounded.

        Now maybe you can get some help from the boys,

        to fix up your sleigh and shake out these toys."

        Everyone ran to gather up wood,

        to try to make loads wherever they could.

        Mike the Teamster said joking with a smirk

        " I'm helping Santa, and he's doing my work"

 

        They loaded the trucks they loaded the trains

        They loaded by hand and loaded with cranes

        They worked on the sleigh up into the night

        Till Safety Bill cleared her, ready for flight.     

         Later that week as Bill lay awake

         Tossing and turning from bad safety cake

         He wondered if maybe he had been to rough

         but safety's  important - you have to be tough

         He felt that he was true and not being a phony

         That it had nothing to do with not getting a pony

         You have to be safe during the Holiday Season

         To be with your loved ones, that was his reason.

     

         The Miracle happened for Bill late that night

          when he heard a strange noise and turned on the light         

          for there on his desk was a card from St. Nick

          and it read Merry Christmas - YOU STUBBON OLD PR!?K!

 

 

         William J. Wahlsteen

 

         Edited from the safety tapes 1,2,&3. copyrighted 1994-1996