[Ken Loyd]

Many, many, many years ago, Stanley Myron Handleman (the only comedian, other than Emo Phillips, I have ever know to mention Thomas Aquinas in one of his skits) told the story of the happy Christmas Elf. I would like to share it with you as best as I remember it.

Once upon a time there was an elf who was very small for his age. His only dream was to one day work in Santa's workshop. Each year the elf would apply and each year Santa would politely say no because Santa was afraid that the elf might get hurt.

One year the "flu" ran rampant through the workshop. Worker elfs were dropping like flies. Santa sent an urgent message to all elves who could help to report for work in the morning.

That night the happy Christmas Elf took a nice long bath while his mother cleaned and pressed his best elf outfit. The next morning the happy Christmas Elf ate a great breakfast, grabbed his lunch, and headed for Santa's workshop with a smile as big as all outdoors.

About half way to Santa's workshop, two hunters jumped out from behind some bushes and shot and killed the happy Christmas Elf.

The moral of the story (according to Stanley) is: Be happy with your life, you never know when it will end.

Happy Holidays to All!

Ken Loyd
Team #64