My seat was waiting for me, front of the T.V tonight we were
watching Elf. It was 2004 and it was a week before Christmas. I was up front,
well me a few guys were running Camp by then, 81 had rolled thunder, and as THOR
out of respect the brothers always had a seat for me waiting. The movie came on
and we were all laughing when you were supposed to and having a good time of
it. Movies always at 8 were cool after long days in the brush of Oregon working
in rain, muck mud, working to clear forest area's to stop forest fires, fire
roads stream habitat, national parks, local parks, we got the job done. Forest
Work Crew day after day 6 days a week the trucks pulled out and we worked, and
a good movie at the end was a great way to unwind, stay cool. It was near the
end of the movie, when the little girl started singing, "You better watch
out." I chimed my voice up letting it roll powerfully into the room in
time with the music a Christmas classic "You better watch out"
Another voice joined in taking the next line. "Better not cry!" a
bunch of tough guys.. "Better not pout" chimed in from another corner
of the big dark room. Then a few voices with mine took the next line, "I'm
telling you why." It is one thing when just a voice or a few sings along,
but then something happened. Every single man in that room sang the next line..
"SANTA CLAUSE IS COMING TO TOWN!" We all keep singing louder and
louder, other men came in the room, blue clad, with lettering, all began singing
lining the walls watching at first with funny looks then catching the bug
joined in. Finally a few Sheriffs on duty at The Lane County Forest Work Camp
walked in in wonder and amazement as 50 Inmates in JAIL sang a children's
Christmas Carol at the top of our voices, smiles, leaning and swaying with the
music, Santa Clause IS COMING TO TOWN.... Christmas in Jail. THOR
