Tag Archives: holidays

Where Santa’s letters actually go

In the village of North Pole, Alaska, lives a man named Santa Claus.

Or so the story goes.

Fun fact–the town of North Pole is actually South of Fairbanks, where Heidi lives. So she can claim with utmost authority “I live North of North Pole.” Of course, North of the North Pole is a different matter.

As I’ve mentioned before, the town hosts a very large Christmas store, where you can purchase Alaska paraphenalia, crêches, ornaments, Christmas trees . . .

. . . and even visit with the fenced-in reindeer out back. Hello Prancer. Or is it Dancer? Sorry. . . you all look the same to me.

While we were there in September, we decided to get an ornament. There were so many choices that it was a difficult task.

The felt sweater or the little wooden sled? The snowflake or the moose?

Thankfully, little James had a clear opinion.

Posted on some of the walls and columns of the store . . . letters to Santa!

I guess they come somewhere after all. I heard that parents can pay “Santa” to actually answer these letters. I wonder what Santa’s going rate is these days. Anyway, I wanted to put up a couple of these letters as we enter the Christmas season for your enjoyment and amusement.

Can I please

have three Junie B. Jones. And some Junie B. books. One stupid smelly bus, the christmas one, and a monster under her bed plus some beads. Thanks. Love,

Abagaile.

Pleas
Pleas
Pleas
Pleas
Pleas
Get Me
a Castle
Pleas
Dan
Marinoe
Jersy

Dear Santa, am I beaing good for Christmas? I hope I am. Do you have little Elves? How are you doing? How old are you? Here’s a Chistmas list

E-Kare
Fisher Price sweet streets
play CD
Lizzemicd
a pitcher of you and Mrs. Clas and elves
from Erin kinney

Dear, Santa

I have been a little naghty This year I am sorry. If I end up getting any thing this year I would love to have a puppy, I would help out more at the house. Santa I would not ask for anything els for the rest of the year.

Love,

Mackenzie

It will be a while before this little guy writes his first letter to the Big Fat Bearded Man.

Lookin’ good in that hat there, James.

Do I have to keep wearing this?

So–did you guys ever write letters to Santa? And did you believe in him? And do your kids write letters to Santa? And how much is Santa charging these days for a response?

Christmas crooning and the Hokey Pokey

Last week was full of music, and after touting the glories of that Christmas on the Town concert, I’d be amiss if I didn’t follow up and share a video I took of my friend Carrie singing her heart out.

Enjoy her sweet crooning, Graham’s incredible skills on the mouth harp, and the fantastic song itself, “Heavenly Peace: a Blues Ballad” composed by our church’s own Ben Lynerd, which he layered with “Silent Night” in a beautiful way.

You can read more about the song on Carrie’s blog–and I love the words, taken from a poem by William Cullen Bryant:

These strifes, these tumults of the noisy world, 
Where Fraud, the coward, tracks his prey by stealth, 
And Strength, the ruffian, glories in his guilt, 
Oppress the heart with sadness. Oh, my friend, 
In what serener mood we look upon 
The gloomiest aspects of the elements 
Among the woods and fields! Let us awhile, 
As the slow wind is rolling up the storm, 
In fancy leave this maze of dusty streets, 
Forever shaken by the importunate jar 
Of commerce, and upon the darkening air 
Look from the shelter of our rural home.
 

On a completely different note, today we hit the road to Wisconsin! Remember Kevin and Katina? The ones whose engagement pictures I took over the summer? Well, they get married tomorrow, and not only do I get to be the second photographer at the wedding (all the fun, none of the pressure) but I will be also be involved in the wedding music shenanigans during the reception. My band Thornfield (Carrie, Eric and me) plus Petras on the drums and Jonathan Gilley on bass will be playing pre-dinner music and then dance music. This includes . . . well, the Hokey Pokey, among other things.

I’ll be doing some heavy tambourining, guitar riffs, singing a little, and possibly even egg-shaking. And I get to play the drums for the first time! Yes, the real drums (as opposed to my usual goat-faced companion). Peter is taking the lead singing on a couple songs (“As Time Goes By” as well as a couple duets with Carrie such as “Unforgettable”), so I staged a takeover of his drum set. So far no one has wrenched those stick thingy whatchamacallits away from me, so wish me luck. And I should also figure out what those stick thingies are called. Drum sticks? (heh heh) Plain old “Sticks”? Rhythm hitting whatsits? Bangy loud poles? Oversized rhythmic chopsticks?

Anyway, it’s going to be a blast. An exhausting blast, but a blast nonetheless. Whoopeee for weddings!