2025-12-24

Dear Santa:

How are you?  I hope you, and Mrs. Claus, and the elves, and the reindeer are all feeling good.

You may recall the foreboding (and sense of deep personal loss) when I heard Carol's Quality Sweets permanently closed on New Year's Eve (a closing that also forced retirement on Carol and Grant Logan).  Such forebodings seem to set an early theme for any year, including as variants of "If you want to make God laugh, make plans...".  (As timeless as you are, Santa, the season's Deities might be discombobulated in the event of your retirement.)

Suffice to chicken-scratch, I am thinking extra of the ladies who patiently guided me during the decades of my career -- they caused "work for" to evolve into more than "work with", into something mutually beneficial mere words might not be able to describe (with or without using "work husband").  The accomplishments in their calm dedication were (and continue to be) inspiring, and my "good day" was always one during which I managed to cause at least one of the ladies to smile (or, at least, to no longer have to worry about something)... and a "bad day" was any on which any one needed to say "It is what it is...".

Although circumstances might prevent one from providing ongoing support or smiles or even shared, simple kindnesses in person, that does not mean each lady is not thought of (even multiple times each day) and in the highest regard.  The first Christmas Morning included a lesson for the ages:  The times shared in person are later emphasized -- even if not heralded by Heaven in the moment -- by how very much the person is missed later... and an understanding that Heaven on Earth can occur is demonstrated by their individual grace and infinite patience.  Their trust allowed selfish moments to become more pure, more beneficial... and even a memory of their smile is a hug on the inside.

I know there are those who are long-entitled to extra smiles you may have, Santa.  As always, you must be busy enough as it is, trying to replace "I need a hug..." pouts with something brighter and shared.  Certainly Carol and Grant and their family are worthy of your ongoing dedication, for the sweet smiles they caused, for each fond memory they shared, and for the sum of the joy they spread throughout the world every day during decades (I still miss the real rum he used in a fudge recipe).  But if you do have a spare moment this Christmas, Santa, please give the ladies of the ages some extra smiles and extra happy memories, for each reminded how vital it is to think of others... how thrilling it is to cause a smile for someone else... how even a single sweet moment can mean the world to someone else... and how inspiring to everyone even one smile can be....