Some levity for the post election blues/Blues.

While walking down the street one day a senior politician is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

”Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let me in,” says the man.

“Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity. We have our rules.”

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They greet him and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly, nice guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. Before long he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.

The elevator goes up to heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

“Now it’s time to visit heaven.”

So, 24 hours pass as the politician joins a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time before the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

“Well, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”

The politician reflects for a minute, then he answers: “Well, I would never have said it before, I heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.”

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

All of his friends, are dressed in rags, picking up the trash, putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil puts his arm around his shoulder.

”I don’t understand,” stammers the politician. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course, clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, danced and had a great time. Now there’s a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?”

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, “Yesterday we were campaigning.”

(Your vote has been counted!)

George Terhaar

Enumclaw