December 20, 2006
HO! HO! HO! dotcom

It was1969, the year of my television debut and, to be perfectly honest, also the date of my TV swan song.  The role was assisting the star, Kris Kringle himself, on KREX-TV’s “Letters To Santa”.  The show ran every weekday afternoon between Thanksgiving and Christmas on Grand Junction’s one, and only, local TV station.  My job was to introduce the kids to Santa (behind the white beard and red suit he seemed to sound a lot like Big Poolie), place the really tiny tots on Santa’s lap whether they wanted to be there or not, provide segues from Santa and the kids to Bill Sullivan doing commercials for the toy department at Stephens Sporting Goods, and most importantly staying out of the parents way, since after driving their offspring all the way to the Hillcrest Manor studio they wanted no obstructions in taking pictures of the little darlings on Santa’s lap.  Trust me, decades ago in Grand Junction, this was cutting edge visit with Santa technology.  But it was light years away from today, where a relationship with Santa Claus is but a mouse click away. 

Last week in Denver, granddaughter Hailey, four years old and filled to the brim with Christmas spirit, detailed not only writing Santa but also receiving a return e-mail that very day from the big man himself.  And so I learned about northpole.net.   

All the Santa info a youngster needs is immediately at hand when the home computer is dialed in to northpole.net. There are messages from Rudolph and Mrs. Claus, an elf update plus an oh so important this time of the year North Pole Weather Report.  Additionally, you’ll find a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section filling a reader in on just how Santa’s sleigh makes it round the world in one day, “practice and judicious use of time zones”, and how Santa delivers toys to a home with no chimney or a fire in the fireplace, “trade secret”.  At northpole.net you’ll also discover Christmas games, a section on how Christmas is observed around the world, and Yuletide Ho! Ho! Ho!’s.  “What do elves learn in school?” The elf-a-bet. “What nationality is Santa?” He’s North Polish.  Hey, when you’re four these are knee-slappers. 

But what really tripped Hailey’s trigger was “Send an e-mail to Santa”.  With her Mom typing, Hailey asked for Polly Pocket and Princess Pony things and other stuff that Grandpas know nothing about. 

But the highlight, according to a most excited granddaughter, was the next day Santa emailed back.  “Hailey,” he wrote, “I’m so glad to hear from you.  I just got your email so I will look it over and see what I can do.  I will have to check to see what the elves can make on your list and then with your parents.  This is a busy time of the year with the emails, the elves in the workshop and the Reindeer Flying Practices.  Well, I had better get back to reading and answering the rest of my email-so Merry Christmas, mind your parents (I check to see if you have been bad or good) and I’ll see you on Christmas Eve—make sure you are in bed early.  Santa Claus 

With Christmas less than a week away, if the kidlets in your clan haven’t written Santa Claus or want to double up on previous efforts, check out www.Northpole.net.   And Merry Christmas.