Santa Logic

Dear Santa,              December 1989

I am wondering how you manage to get into homes all over the world on Christmas Eve.  There are so many stories about you and we see so many of you through the holiday season.  Do you come around on the "polar express" or on a horse or in a sleigh drawn by flying reindeer?

My daughters Laura (5) and Jasmine (4) are absolutely convinced you come down the chimney.  I tried pointing out to them that our chimney is much too narrow--and not only that, last year since we didn't have a stovepipe we pushed the stove back and set up the tree directly under the chimney AND the chimney was blocked with foam core insulation.  "HOW did Santa manage to come in without knocking the tree over," I asked.  The girls absolute faith in your ability to overcome all obstacles was undaunted.

I suggested some plausable alternatives.  "Suppose Santa is really the milkman.  He comes twice a week all year while we're still in bed.  We never see him but we know he has come because we find milk in the box.  He knows where our house is and he could have a key that works only on Christmas and come right in through the door!"

This possibility was rejected by the girls.  They wouldn't hear of it.  Then I speculated that Santa may be the mailman.  They again flatly refused to consider it.

"Then maybe Santa can walk through walls," I tried.  "No Mom," from Laura.  "He's not invisible.  You have to be invisible to walk through walls."  "Well," I try again, "maybe he's invisible while coming through the wall and turns visible again once he's inside."

At last in frustration Laura offered to draw me a picture of Santa and end the debate once and for all.

But when we finally installed a pipe from our wood-burning stove to the chimney opening and Laura could see how narrow the pipe is she conceeded that perhaps Santa indeed could come through the walls. 

Somehow or other, Santa, I know you will manage to visit our home this year.  We have been sending wishes to you all through the year via the Christmas-wish-fairy.  And it is my guess the wish-fairy has been making secret visits through the year and stashing surprises somewhere in our house to be gathered together quickly by you, Santa, on Christmas Eve.  Maybe all you will have to do is step inside, wiggle your nose, and all the gifts will be drawn together by a magical magnetism under your direction.  Who knows?