When I wrote this poem in 1991, I actually entitled it, “Another Silly Christmas Poem.” How would I know that 16 years later, when I am publishing back poems, that the title would be so apropos.
We had been retired from the Army for over a year and I was becoming knowledgeable in motor vehicle safety. It seems manufacturers were putting all kinds of things on the steering wheel – symbols of horns and airbags, and cruise control buttons. For safety reasons all these items were required to be upright so that they could be easily understood. Well, once the steering wheel is turned, everything goes upside down. In our wisdom, we decided the symbols and gadgets needed to be perceptively upright only when the car wheels were going straight. Sometimes, we did things that saved lives. Sometimes we just avoided doing stupid things. This was the latter.
Another Silly Christmas Poem
(because Carole made me do it)
I guess it’s that time, to put poem in gear,
So, seasons greetings and a happy New Year.
Happy in Springfield, you surely can guess,
For the first time in four, the same address.
We’re hanging paper and painting and watching things grow,
And next year we’ll try for three in a row.
Carole’s a Thrift Shop volunteer, one of her joys,
Hates the Springfield exit and the Dallas Cowboys.
She started the year working, but gave it up for Lent,
Fighting rush hour traffic, would leave anyone spent.
The Christmas party’s coming and Carole’s oh so busy,
With cookies, candies and decorations, Lord, I’m feeling dizzy.
Jack’s still cranking out rules to make car safety air tight,
Why even gadgets on steering wheels must be perceptively upright.
Airbags and seat belts make our season safe and merry,
With special help from the crash dummies, Vince and Larry.
The boss has been tapped to lead FAA,
It makes life exciting day after day.
Christmas should be great, we’ll be sleeping in the hall,
With Missy, Terry & Tyler, and also Blanche and Paul.
We’ll miss Becky and Kerby and the kids this season,
Arizona’s far away, and that’s the reason.
Uncle Sam has them stationed out in the West,
He’s teaching ROTC, and proctoring a test.
Paul’s got a job and we’re flipping our lids,
He’s providing guidance to troubled kids.
He’s patching together what was damaged goods,
They’re finding themselves, out in the woods.
So I’ve done the deed for another year,
I hope these lines have brought you cheer.
Each year I get worse, just a bit,
but, I’m really not sure, which year to quit.
(but I’ve quit for this year)
Merry Christmas, etc, etc.
Years ago, we had the privilege of being neighbors of the Rices. Twas lots of fun then and we find ourselves
laughing all over again at Jack’s “antics.” Makes us feel CLOSE
once again! Thanks!