'Twas the Night Before Christmas - A Professor's Perspective « Back

With the holiday season upon us, the hustle and bustle seems to amplify, and people seem stretched and stressed. I’ve got an idea! Ask for a pedometer for Christmas. You know – the activity meter that tells you how many steps you take. I’d bet most people exceed the 10,000 steps per day recommended for optimal health.

Pedometers have been used on animals and cows for more than 25 years. They help us record normal, daily patterns of movement and are also useful when this activity deviates from normal. We conduct a lot of research in this area, and our early work during one Christmas season not only proved they worked but provided a holiday story to be cherished and shared.

We had a research project with leg pedometers on 48 cows. I’d sent my students home for the holidays, and my job was checking the cows two times per day. If any cow should increased activity (evidenced by blinking neon red lights), I had to take numerous measurements to confirm potential breeding indicators. But all was quiet.

'Twas the morn’ before Christmas and all through the barns, the cows were stirring very little as -25 and -50 degree wind chills meant staying indoors.

Cows would be nestled all snug in their beds with visions of alfalfa hay dancing in their heads. 

But what to my wondering eyes would appear were 48 neon lights flashing brightly as I drew near. 

So off to church with friends to pray, then back to the barns for research and play. 

Weather had changed, it was 24 today, and cows had gone back outside to frolic and play.

That increased activity in their frolic and flight, meant for great decorations that holiday night.

Those beautiful blinking red lights made me pause, and I knew this night had a meaningful cause.

Those mangers and animals, yes work and some strife, would bring meaning and peace for the rest of my life.

And they heard me explain as I walked out that night, Merry Christmas my friends and to all a good night!