'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Flash - I Saw Santa Claus!

It really did happen this way. I, GEMINI, was therewhat she was doing she told us that while out
and saw the whole thing. Actually, it wasscouring the cosmos she ran across Santa, who
AQUARIUS who leaked the details of thesaid he knew he was lost when he tried to land
upcoming meeting. You know, they never canhis big sleigh on the docks at Boston harbor.
keep a secret.Everyone grimaced and looked over at PISCES,
Twas the night before Christmas and all throughwho smiled sweetly and was instantly forgiven for
the town, every creature was stirring and it washis lack of accurate directions.
all because of LEO.Smiling benevolently, Santa climbed out of his
You see, LEO had arranged for dear ol' Santa tosleigh and greeted each of us from the zodiac. He
meet the zodiac. Under the guise of wantingwas mighty impressed with LIBRA'S perfectly
Santa to become better acquainted with theformed greeting lines.
personalities of each zodiac sign and making sureLEO, still on stage, broke out in a rousing rendition
everyone got the right gift, LEO set the sceneof Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here. SAG excitedly
for his thinly-veiled disguise to be center stage.interrupted, requesting the song, Joy To The
Ever the inspiration for fun, LEO left the details toWorld.
everyone else. Unfortunately, with good planning,ARIES barged to the front of the line trying to
but bad directions, PISCES was left in charge ofgreet Santa first. I watched SCORPIO throw
giving Santa the landing coordinates.ARIES a withering glance that could freeze water.
It was 7:30PM last Monday night and Santa wasARIES reluctantly got back in line. As LEO belted
late. SAGITTARIUS, who forgot to fill the gasout Joy To The World, he was once again
tank of her monster SUV, had to hitch a ride withinterrupted with a song request from AQUARIUS.
LEO in his Corvette and that was the only reason"LEO, sing We Are The World!" LEO happily
she wasn't late too. I watched Leo set up hisobliged, glad to have all eyes on him. AQUARIUS
stage equipment while SAG went out for anhugged everyone in sight and Santa seemed to
exploratory hike. Suddenly, careening around theenjoy it all.
tree line came ARIES, riding his nitro-fueled, bigAgain I asked, "But where is CAPRICORN?" Santa
wheeled quad. Mad that he was not first on thesmiled warmly and said, "Pleased to meet you
scene, ARIES spun angry donuts in the dirt,GEMINI. I'm CAPRICORN. " He nodded his head,
spewing dust and gravel up my nose.winked and began passing out gifts.
Next to arrive, Wrangler-wearing TAURUSThe following is a list of special Santa gifts
approached the growing crowd, riding his favoritereceived that night:
Quarter horse stallion and leading his prize Angus• ARIES received a camo Mad Bomber hat for
bull by the nose (which was really more of a petquad riding.
than a money-maker).• TAURUS, a lilting CD gift pack of Roy
Boy, was I wound tight. Shifting from foot toRogers, Happy Trails to You.
foot, I anxiously questioned VIRGO as to the• I, GEMINI, was thrilled to receive the latest
whereabouts of Santa and CAPRICORN. She saidBlue tooth telephone.
I sounded like Hammy, the caffeinated squirrel in• Santa gave CANCER a gift certificate for a
Over the Hedge. Peering over her eyeglasses, shekitchen make over and pantry full of food.
told me I was talking too fast to be understood.• LEO was grandly presented a signed contract
Ignoring her, I turned my attention to the soundfor a music tour around the world.
of rolling wheels behind me.• VIRGO received her own Merry Maids
Pulling a red wagon filled with homemade cookiescleaning business franchise.
and hot chocolate, CANCER and her brood smiled• LIBRA was gifted an exquisite art collection
and waved as they bounced along the rutted dirtby John Waterhouse.
road. They were pulling a little red wagon filled• SCORPIO grinned like an elf when he opened
with homemade cookies and hot chocolate. Wehis antique Kama Sutra book wrapped in velvet.
always could count on her to supply treats for• SAG jumped up and down in her climbing
the really important occasions.boots when Santa gave her a Brazilian cherry
Meanwhile, LEO, still busy setting up hiswood hiking stick from the Amazon.
microphone, sang out in his best performance• Good ol' AQUARIUS received the latest
voice, "Testing, one, two, three." Suddenly, a largeGreen Peace fuel cells for her space ship.
shadow covered the moonlit ground. Turning• And last, but not least, PISCES was awarded
toward the east, we all witnessed twofree psychic readings for a year and a Tom-Tom
approaching vehicles, a UFO-type craft, followedGPS locator.
by a brightly colored sleigh. Ever vigilant, VIRGOYou see, Santa really does know everything.
was the first to shout, "Look, it's Santa! Quick,Anxious to get about his business, Capricorn, I
rake the dirt for a smooth landing!"mean Santa, nimbly hopped aboard his sleigh and
LIBRA graciously & quietly announced that it waswith a nod of his head, waved, and disappeared
only good manners for everyone to form ainto the starry night. Dazed and confused, I
parting-of-the-masses line to properly greet Santa.quickly called in my report to the editor on my
The two aircraft quietly landed in the meadow.new Blue tooth.
Out of the UFO jogged AQUARIUS, dressed inAnd this is the way it really happened. Although
outdated go-go boots with a multi-coloredI'm not prepared to take a lie detector test, after
Guatemalan poncho thrown carelessly over herall, I am GEMINI, I can tell you, it really did, pretty
shoulder. She looked stunning! When I asked hermuch, sort of happened this way.