CIMBA 'twas

My friend Gen and I wrote this for our Christmas formal dinner. It was a complete surprise to everyone and I'm pretty sure we got major brownie points.

Twas two weeks before Christmas , when all throughout CIMBA

Not a creature was stirring, not even Amanda;

The students were exhausted and drinking with care

In hopes that a break would finally be there

They were all settled finally comfortable in their places

While visions of higher education danced in about their faces

Cristina and her flip chart, and I without my glass

Had just settled down for a long winter’s class

When out on the courtyard, someone created such a clatter

I sprang from my seat to see what was the matter

Away out of class, I flew with a fit

Tore open the shutters and threw up my spritz

Glass all around and the door hung open ajar

Gave the luster to the lessons LIFE had not taught us thus far

When thinking of what happened, I wondered what to do,

Then it hit me, the cause is needed, a PA will do

What, Where, When, and How much?

Then through distinction and change we determined as such

With such a swift decision and no time on the clock

I knew in a moment it must be the Doc

More rapid than eagles his courses they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name

Now consulting! Now KT! Now Career Strategy and Coaching!

On Project Implementation, Six Sigma, High Ropes and Negotiating!

To the top of the class, seemingly the top of the world,

Now Get a job! Get a job! Get a job all!

So up to the corporate-top, students they flew

With a sleigh full of K-T tools and Ringlebean ones too

And don’t forget the coaching sessions and their toll,

It’s all about perfecting and completing each little goal.

From distances they come our Italian engineers

Fabio, Stefano, Serena, and Giampietro – if only we could see them everyday of the year

With Ziemba and A-dub, off to bed by nine,

For Gen and Sara that means time to pop open the wine

Elisa and Lady Gaga will dance till Dawn

All while Omar in high-pitched voice, secretly sings along

Kristy and Valentina both looking so sweet

Watch out if you push them, you might get beat

With James and Ryan trying to dress all Euro

Will never match up to the Flamboyant Roberto

Ricky and Cristian, the California boys

Love to drive everyone crazy with that bumpin’ noise

Curtis the top chef always in the kitchen

Maybe one day he’ll cook something other than chicken,

Neeraj and Kumar the pea-cooking duo

Just turn on the music and watch how they go

Then after class, we all join for a delicious Fuego

No Maria’s tonight, lets avoid the all-loving Angelo

To our surprise we find K-J, Tommy and Jayme drinking Montenegroes

Just a couple more and it would be a complete fiasco

As we get back to CIMBA, we don’t make a sound,

Hoping and praying that Dr Al’s still around,

He was there dressed in a suit, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all spotless with cufflinks to boot

A bundle of Toys he has stored in his mind,

He looks like Mr. Trump, just a little more kind

He preaches about the brain and leadership neuroscience

Combine these with our tools and you have quite an alliance

He writes “try” on his practice exams, Ms Baggio not far behind,

But we all make mistakes, some more fun to find

A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work

And graded all of our exams; then turned with a jerk

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up to La Rocca he rose

He sprang to his Fiat, to his hawkeyes gave a whistle

And Away they all flew like the down of a thistle

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”