Bad Santa

My son was walking beside me when a young, black kid who works construction saw me and started laughing.

“What’s going on?” I said to the kid. “Why are you laughing at me?”

“‘Cause you’re a funny dude,” he said. “I was in your safety class, and you shocked me. I told the guy sitting next to me that you reminded me of Billy Bob as Bad Santa.”

“That’s the perfect description,” another guy standing nearby said. “You’re there for a safety class, and he gives us the Bad Santa talk.”

It was a high compliment, and as word got around, a lot of people seemed to agree that I have the old Billy Bob vibe when I speak.

And here’s the thing:

It’s a safety talk in front of a lot of grown men who have heard a review of the rules a lot of times.

About 30 years ago, I was sitting in a safety class that was being taught by a highly entertaining speaker. 

As that man spoke, (Bill Bord) I realized he was teaching us the same stuff but doing it in a way that I would remember for a long time.

💡 time.

“That’s how I have to do it,” I thought, and I spent a lot of years refining the ‘act’.

Billy Bob is one of my all-time favorite actors…

…so I’m good with it.

Bad Santa.

My son has called me that since we heard it.