I had to work nightwatch one year when I was a deputy sheriff. I was in communications and was bored out of my mind because it was a fairly slow night. We had monitors for other agencies’ radio frequencies and I was halfway listening to them.
At the stroke of midnight, an Austin PD officer started a “pursuit” on I-35 at the north city limits headed southbound. Yep - vehicle was described as a red sled pulled by what appeared to be reindeer, traveling well above the posted speed limit.
I had everyone back in the radio room listening to it. Just as he “crossed” the Colorado river, my lieutenant called over to APD on the hotline and asked the dispatcher that answered if they needed support from TCSO. The dispatcher was cracking up and immediately went on the air and advised the officer that TCSO was establishing a roadblock on I-35 just south of the city limits. We were still laughing over that when another dispatcher came on and announced that the Texas Highway Patrol would be assisting TCSO on the roadblock.
The “pursuit” broke off right at the south city limits when the officer reported that the red vehicle had suddenly accelerated straight upwards and veered east. He recommended that we alert Bergstrom AFB for possible airspace intrusion.
Good times, good times. What funny Christmas hijinks have you seen or heard of?
Not Christmas, but New Year’s Eve when my brother and I were kids…As midnight was approaching one of my parents mentioned that putting a penny in the mailbox on NYE would bring you good luck through the year. We of course immediately had to try it. We did, then a few minutes after midnight we heard the mailbox open and slam shut. We all gawked at each other, ran out to the box and sure enough the penny was gone. We were incredulous at the thought of some burglar frantically running around the neighborhood stealing pennies from mailboxes. (As I grew older it dawned on me that my dad must’ve snuck out the back door and done it. I mean surely that’s what happened!)
A couple was last-minute Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve and the mall was packed.
Busy looking at all the window displays, the woman suddenly noticed her husband was nowhere to be found, which upset her because they had so much shopping yet to do.
Using her cell phone, she called him.
He answered on the second ring, and in a loving voice said, “Honey, remember that jewelry store we went into 5 years ago where you fell in love with that diamond necklace that we couldn’t afford, and I told you that I would get it for you one day?”
Tears began to flow as the woman said, “Yes, honey, I remember that jewelry store.”
He said, “Yeah, well I’m in the bar next to it.”
