The Year That Santa Retired

“I’m too old for this,” sighed Santa, as he finished work that day,

“I have a pain here in my back that will not go away.

My eyes are tired, my feet are sore, my head is pounding so,

I fear its thumping may be heard way down in…Mexico!”

He sank into his easy chair, he closed his eyes and sighed,

He placed his feet upon a stool and very nearly cried.

“The miles and miles of snow up here are quite a sight to see,

But now I think that Florida should be the place for me.”

His wife brought in hot chocolate as he finished this remark.

“You silly man.” She chuckled. “You’ll be eaten by a shark!”

She looked into his troubled eyes and smoothed his soft, white hair.

“Now what’s the real problem, Dear? You know how much I care!”

He lifted up his chocolate cup and slowly took a sip,

Then in a thoughtful way, he pulled upon his lower lip.

He looked into her loving eyes, then down into the fire.

“The elves brought in a foreman elf they wanted me to hire.”

“With someone else to run the show, they won’t need me at all,

They said they could replace me with a schedule on the wall.

And someone kind of young would want to tackle greater things.

I feel the changes in the air this foreman’s presence brings.”

“He says he has a dozen plans to make our business grow,

He’s going to pay the elves much more and keep their hours low.

He says they’ll work much faster if they get more rest each day,

And all will go much better if I simply go away.”

“On his schedule all is listed from the dawn to setting sun,

And if he’s right, by June the first, the toys will all be done.

The elves will then have time for play and do what they like best,

Or simply lie down in the sun and take a good long rest.”

He turned to look at her and wiped a tear from off his cheek.

“I’d time to think, they said, and gave me nearly half a week.

I said I’d answer right away, they didn’t need to wait,

I told them you and I would leave tomorrow night at eight.”

So Santa packed his things and sadly climbed into his sleigh,

And he and Mrs. Santa very slowly flew away.

In Florida, they found themselves a house down by the sea,

And soon they had a garden full of carrots, corn and peas.

They swam and fished and talked and laughed and lay out in the sun,

And no knew that Santa wasn’t really having fun,

For though they had so much to do—were always on the go,

He never could forget the snow. And work that he loved so.

One day while they were on the beach just lying in the sun,

They noticed someone coming toward their beach house on the run.

“It’s Ralph,” Said Mrs. Santa as they scrambled to their feet.

Ralph Elf was the last person that they thought they’d ever meet!

“You must come back!” Ralph panted as he sank into a chair,

“The schedule simply doesn’t work. We need someone who cares!

Eight months, we’ve worked for Foreman and, by rights, we should be done,

But to tell the truth, my friend, the work has barely been begun!”

“Come with me now, I beg you, for there is so much to do,

We tried hard to do without you for we thought that you were through.

We thought you were too old to really help us anymore,

But now we know it’s love, not age, that really writes the score!”

“We need you so the children won’t be sad on Christmas day,

And the elves all say they’ll work for you without a speck of pay.

Come with me, please. We need you. Could you try forgiveness now?

If you can’t forgive, just help us help the children anyhow.”

Santa’s eyes were dimmed with tears as he looked at Mrs. Claus,

He smiled at Ralph. “We’ll get our things.” Then suddenly, he paused.

 “My friend,” he said as he looked at Ralph, “Do the elves all want me too?

“Or do they just want someone who will work as hard as you?”

Ralph smiled and said, “Dear Santa, we have found it’s you we love,

We couldn’t work for someone else for all the stars above!”

We are a team, or better yet, a father, girls and boys,

Most families have a hobby. And ours is making toys.”

“We work so well together and together, we should be,

We’ll make the toys for everyone for all eternity.

Come with me now. We need you so. We each would like to say

If you’re with us, we’ll have more fun with each and every day!”

So Santa went with Ralph that day and started with a will,

By Christmas Eve the work was done and every packaged filled.

They worked so hard throughout those weeks, that on that happy day,

The children never knew how Santa had been sent away.

So now on Christmas morning when you see that he’s been there,

Remember that it’s love that brings your presents through the air.

And if we work together, loving as a family,

Love can accomplish anything that’s good. Take it from me!

Yes. Santa does recycle...

Merry Christmas, my friends!

And I hope that 2018 is the Best. Year. Ever!!!