Dear Colleague,
I met Andy Flynn a few summers ago when I was keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York. About six months later, I received an email from him:
"I met you at the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York (PSSNY) Convention last June as I serve on their Board of Directors. I am a full-time faculty member, part-time practicing pharmacist in long term care, member of NCPA, and faculty adviser to the Albany College of Pharmacy's NCPA student chapter. I have attached a holiday poem that I wrote a while back which was published in the December 1997 issue of Drug Topics. Enjoy!"
Andy
I tucked the poem into my files for a couple of years but would like to share it with you as we head into the holiday season. As Andy referenced above, the poem was written more than 20 years ago, so some of the brand-name products will take you for a walk down memory lane while you enjoy a quick departure from the hustle and bustle.
The Night Before Christmas — A Pharmacist's Tale
By Andy Flynn, RPh
'Twas the night before Christmas
I was closing the store,
Just cleaned up my counter
And vacuumed the floor.
Then "BANG" on the roof -
I felt the place shake.
Things fell off the shelves
Like there was an earthquake.
I sprang to the door
And standing outside
Was a bearded old fellow
'Bout three feet wide.
"Can I help you?," I queried.
"I hope so," he sighed,
"Could you just fill one more
For a weary old guy?"
"Sure, follow me."
Then I noticed his belly,
Which shook when he walked
Like petroleum jelly.
My first script from Alaska
All crinkled yet huge.
Then the doctor's name struck me
It read Dr. E. Scrooge.
"Your name please?," I asked him.
"My name is Kris Kringle.
That's a cream that he told me
To rub on my shingles."
When I asked his address
He announced "The North Pole!"
Did this guy think he's Santa?
I pitied the soul.
But he did look the part
From his hat to each boot.
I bet he just left his job
At the mall in that suit.
"Are you on medication?"
I quizzed and then came
A list from his pocket.
He read them by name.
"I'm on Cozaar, on K-Dur,
On Keflex and Kwelcof,
On Zyrtec, on Zantac,
On Xanax and Zoloft."
"I take baby aspirin
And wear Nicotrol.
I'll pay cash for it,
Cash for it, cash for it all!"
He grabbed Tylenol, Debrox,
And Dermoplast spray,
Efferdent, Afrin,
A tube of Ben-Gay.
Then Anusol cream
And a large Krazy glue.
I shudder the thought
If he mixed up the two.
I counseled him well
Then he paid me in cash,
Picked up his big bag
And went off in a dash.
I followed behind him
And while locking the door
I looked outside for him
But saw him no more.
Then the store shook again,
Scraping sounds on the roof.
My heart skipped a beat
When I saw the first hoof.
My whole body stiffened
As I watched in dismay.
Reindeer in flight
With that guy in a sleigh!
I thought I had dreamed
For a second or two.
Then gazed quite amazed
At the spectacular view.
I raced back and snatched
What I thought was the script.
But all it read now was
"Merry Christmas, St. Nick."
And, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all!
Douglas
P.S. As we move into a new year, NCPA wants to align our efforts and resources with the issues that are most important to you, and we need your help. If you are a pharmacy owner or manager, please fill out this short survey and tell us how you think NCPA can best allocate advocacy, educational, and program/service efforts in 2020. Your opinion is important to us. The survey closes Dec. 27, so please do it today.
