\nNot an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ.
\nThe aircraft were fastened to tie downs with care,
\nIn hopes that \u2014 come morning \u2014 they all would be there.The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots,
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/aliendreams.ddns.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/snowy-airport-tower-stockcake-300x168.jpg\")
\nWith gusts from two-forty at 39 knots.
\nI slumped at the fuel desk, now finally caught up,
\nAnd settled down comfortably, resting my butt.When the radio lit up with noise and with chatter,
\nI turned up the scanner to see what was the matter.
\nA voice clearly heard over static and snow,
\nCalled for clearance to land at the airport below.He barked his transmission so lively and quick,
\nI\u2019d have sworn that the call sign he used was \u201cSt. Nick.\u201d
\nI ran to the panel to turn up the lights,
\nThe better to welcome this magical flight.He called his position, no room for denial,
\n\u201cSt. Nicholas One, turnin\u2019 left onto final.\u201d
\nAnd what to my wondering eyes should appear,
\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/aliendreams.ddns.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/b8668fb3719ff8526fd9fc8dbfb84ea6-300x200.jpg\")
But a Rutan-built sleigh, with eight Rotax Reindeer!With vectors to final, down the glideslope he came,\nAs he passed all fixes, he called them by name:
\n\u201cNow Ringo! Now Tolga! Now Trini and Bacun!
\nOn Comet! On Cupid!\u201d What pills was he takin\u2019?While controllers were sittin\u2019, and scratchin\u2019 their heads,
\nThey phoned to my office, and I heard it with dread,
\nThe message they left was both urgent and dour:
\n\u201cWhen Santa pulls in, have him please call the tower.\u201dHe landed like silk, with the sled runners sparking,
\nThen I heard, \u201cLeft at Charlie,\u201d and \u201cTaxi to parking.\u201d
\nHe slowed to a taxi, turned off of three-oh,
\nAnd stopped on the ramp with a \u201cHo, ho-ho-ho\u2026\u201dHe stepped out of the sleigh, but before he could talk,
\nI ran out to meet him with my best set of chocks.
\nHis red helmet and goggles were covered with frost,
\nAnd his beard was all blackened from Reindeer exhaust.His breath smelled like peppermint, gone slightly stale,
\nAnd he puffed on a pipe, but he didn\u2019t inhale.
\nHis cheeks were all rosy and jiggled like jelly,
\nHis boots were as black as a cropduster\u2019s belly.He was chubby and plump, in his suit of bright red,
\nAnd he asked me to \u201cfill it, with hundred low-lead.\u201d
\nHe came dashing in from the snow-covered pump,
\nI knew he was anxious for drainin\u2019 the sump.I spoke not a word, but went straight to my work,
\nAnd I filled up the sleigh, but I spilled like a jerk.
\nHe came out of the restroom, and sighed in relief,
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/aliendreams.ddns.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/maxresdefault-300x169.jpg\")
\nThen he picked up a phone for a Flight Service brief.And I thought as he silently scribed in his log,
\nThese reindeer could land in an eighth-mile fog.
\nHe completed his pre-flight, from the front to the rear,
\nThen he put on his headset, and I heard him yell, \u201cClear!\u201dAnd laying a finger on his push-to-talk,
\nHe called up the tower for clearance and squawk.
\n\u201cTake taxiway Charlie, the southbound direction,
\nTurn right three-two-zero at pilot\u2019s discretion\u201dHe sped down the runway, the best of the best,
\n\u201cYour traffic\u2019s a Grumman, inbound from the west.\u201d
\nThen I heard him proclaim, as he climbed thru the night,
\n\u201cMerry Christmas to all! I have traffic in sight.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"