Overheard at... Santa's Cottage

“Poor Rudolph has a cold.”

.  .  .  And I didn’t even know reindeer could catch colds. Apparently they didn’t realize he was sick because, with a red nose, it was hard to tell. The good news is that he is getting better and should be able to fly for Christmas.

I am beginning to think that I enjoy our trips to see Santa even more than my daughter does. Whereas she is focused on making sure he knows her wish list, I am filled with questions about what it is like to be the most famous, magical, person of all time.

Of course there are many ways for me to answer some of my questions. I can go directly to the source and look up historical information on St. Nicholas (http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/who-is-st-nicholas/) such as that he was born in AD 270 in the town of Patara, and is the patron saint of Bakers and Pawnbrokers.

My early childhood knowledge of Santa Claus came from the annual Holiday special, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, with Fred Astair and Mickey Rooney. I especially appreciated the way it explained why Santa does what he does, like come down the chimney and laugh his jolly laugh.

This year, though, as my daughter’s questions about Santa are becoming more complex I think it is time to introduce her to the all-time great movie, The Santa Clause, starring Tim Allen. So perfectly considered it
uses the magic of TV to demonstrate the magic of Santa; clarifying how Santa lives forever and that we do not need a chimney for Santa to visit.

And, by the way…. In case you still have any remaining questions. Santa is on twitter (@pnpSanta) and happily engages his followers. In fact, only this week he asked me to send him my Christmas list. Here it is: a brilliant idea for revising Molto Mayhem, a white Christmas morning, a jolly laugh for all of my fans, friends and family, peace in the Middle East, and…. A hankie for Rudolph.

Happy Christmas.... Ho, Ho, Ho