In “Another Catch-up Poem,” I told you that the 1990 Christmas Poem would explain why we were back in D.C. In the Summer of 88′, we moved to D.C. In the Fall of 89′, we left D.C. (never to return) and moved to Fort Leavenworth. Then in the Summer of 1990, I retired from the Army and we moved back to D.C.
I had worked for Major General Jerry Curry at V Corps in Frankfurt, West Germany. Then, he retired from the Army and ran for Congress in 1988. Following his unsuccessful bid, President Bush appointed him the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “NHTSA” (when I’m talking to someone who has never heard of NHTSA, I say, “you know, the auto recall people”). General Curry asked me to retire and come be his Chief Counsel at NHTSA. He called me in January and after five traumatic months, I had wrapped up my military career and moved back to D.C. We purchased a home in a neighborhood very close to where we had sold our house nine months before.
So the poem below sets out the trauma of three major moves in three years. In the Army, the transportation people joke that regarding your furniture “three moves equals one fire”. The difference as I see it is that you can put a fire out!
A Christmas Poem – 1990
(Surprise, again)
A new address, egad I fear,
We’ve done it again, for the third straight year.
We packed our belongings, in a van they were carted,
As crazy as it seems, we’re back where we started.
(Historic Post)
Our tour at Fort Leavenworth was really the most,
We loved our old quarters and living on post.
But opportunity knocked and it was a hummer,
But nine month tours are really a bummer.
(Loving Wife)
Carole understood the move and she really had to scamper,
Her life was turned up side down, she was not a happy camper.
But now she is settled in a house she selected,
Enjoying friends at the Thrift Shop and stores she’s detected.
(The Job)
I was appointed Chief Counsel in the traffic safety field,
My credentials were suspect, only knowing Stop and Yield.
But I passed all the tests, allaying all their fears,
After all, I’ve been driving for mucho, mucho years.
(Transition)
After 28 years of Army, it’s hard to leave the scene,
Of spit-shined boots and dining-in hoots, we’ll miss our friends in green.
The secret folks is continue the jokes and drive away the blues,
Dive into the job, and don’t be a slob, spit-shine your wing-tipped shoes.
(Kids)
As the kids moved West, we moved east,
Which made this move just more of a beast.
As the grandkids get larger, there’s not much to see,
So we’re giving our money to AT&T.
Becky and Kerby Ross moved more West than you can see,
They’re in Prescott, Arizona, teaching ROTC.
Grant is now four and Brandon’s almost two,
A pair of delightful kids, who’ll bring a smile to you.
Missy and Terry Hansen have reason to be happy,
At any moment now, he’s about to become a pappy.
He’s still designing buses, and she’s still teaching Headstart,
When the little one comes to Hutchinson, they both will need a jump start.
Paul graduated this month, a Mizzou alumnus,
We’re hoping this Christmas, that he’ll be among us.
He’s trying to decide which job will be right,
But, wherever he goes, it will be more bright.
(Closing — at last)
If you read this far, I’m sure you are bored,
For making these rhymes has become untoward.
If I were more careful and cautious of what I say,
Then this missile wouldn’t arrive until Independence Day.
So it’s Merry Christmas, and love and kisses,
And all that’s good, from me and the missus.