Posted by Clint Dixon on Saturday, December 22, 2001 at 10:07PM :
'Twas the night before Christmas, and out in the garage,
Sitting next to the SUV, the Power-wagon seemed large.
The roads were all salted, (I couldn't drive her in that!)
So she sat tucked in, for her long winters nap.
My Dearest had turned in, while I studied parts books.
My eyelids grew heavy. My time for bed (after just one more look!)
When from out of the garage came familiar fan hum and faint valve clatter.
I rushed from the house to see what was the matter.
I threw open the garage door, and switched on the lights.
What I saw before me, really gave me a fright.
Neatly installed on my truck was a 3-point hitch by Monroe,
And a new flat belt pulley, driven by a complete rear PTO.
I looked to her front, what would I find there?
I had to go see...Oh, should I dare?
I opened the hood and what did I find?
A mechanical governor! Could I be out of my mind?
I couldn't believe my good fortune. All my Christmas wishes had come true.
Even the paint on her fenders seemed to have a fresh hue.
Then against my boots, I felt a light little bump.
It startled me slightly and caused me to jump.
From out under the truck, slid a white bearded man,
Wearing oil stained red coveralls, holding a grease gun in his hand.
He announced, "The fluids are changed, and the leaks all repaired."
My jaw dropped open. Speechless...I just stared.
I asked, "Who are you. Is this some kind of trick?"
"Ho, Ho, Ho," he chuckled. "Please, just call me 'Nick."
He said he had parts to deliver, and much more to do.
"Deliver parts?" I asked. "Deliver parts to who?"
He pondered a moment. Then he announced:
"To Gordon Maney! To Joe Cimoch!
To Fred Coldwell and Don Evans!
To David Butler! To Dennis Sherman!
To Dave Brownlow and...I'm late...Good Heavens!"
With a wink of his eye, and a wave of his hand,
Quickly gathering his tools, out through the doorway he ran.
He dashed to a red Town Wagon, parked neatly out of view,
shifted into first gear, and over the snow banks he flew.
I heard him exclaim, as he four-wheeled out of sight,
"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, and TO ALL...A GOOD NIGHT!"
Merry Christmas everyone, and may we all have a Happy New Year!
My apologies to Major Henry Livingston Jr.
Clint
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