‘Twas the night before Christmas business
Ah, the night before Christmas, what a year it has been.
Full of mergers, closures and invoices to send.
Christmas sales were better, easing the retail headache,
All hoping for a better year, than the 2009 take.
With work plans near completion for 2010,
We’ve visions of profits when books close at year end.
And now to my desk, the employees gone home,
Time for quiet reflection, as I sit here alone.
Witness we did, the “great recession” year two,
Focusing on our clients, is what we can do.
The stock markets will rise, and fall in a flash,
But working together, will bring back the cash.
The new normal is what folks want to know,
Many worry its arrival will be light as first snow.
Will we know it by sight? Will we know when it’s here?
When it finally comes round, we’ll surely offer good cheer!
After the past two years, it can’t arrive too quick,
A northerly trend, a definite up tick.
More rapid than hares, the economy blew past,
Better next time like a tortoise, more consistent than fast.
The answer we’ve learned, is not a raging bull,
But we’re smarter this time, so the glass is half-full.
We should look to one another, and to each give a call,
Because doing so will assure, there’s profit for all.
With fits and with starts, the economy did strain,
Manufacturers now making and showing nice gain.
Slow were some developers, and professional services too,
But we’ve hit bottom enough, and it’s time to renew.
From what was once an old mill, a new waterfront progresses,
The rail is in place, next the streets and the addresses.
Yes, development happened, both here and around,
In Longview, Ridgefield and even Battle Ground.
In Vancouver a new mayor, and fire chief on the way,
Our old city manager making big chips day-by-day.
“Peace on Earth” the song heralds, an order that’s tall,
Now “Peace” is at Mother Joseph Place, bringing good health to all.
Day’s end has come on this joyful Christmas Eve,
As next year’s goals are set and received.
2011, is a year to make it right,
So merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
