Dear Santa Claus:

I’ve been thinking about you lately ~ I’m sure you hear that a lot these days.  I sent my Christmas Wish List to you back in January, but this is a different kind of letter, entirely.

I watched all of my favorite shows of the season last week: “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer”, and one of the best “Frosty the Snowman”.   That’s the one where you truly shine by helping Karen to believe in the magic of Christmas and to have faith!

With that being said, I just wanted to say: “Thanks.”  Thank you for all those killer gifts when I was a kid: that Easy Bake Oven was awesome, and I’m real sorry I blew it up when I tried to make a tuna casserole; guess I should have stuck with the ready mix cakes.  The rainbow suspenders and my first bottle of perfume were so stellar and my Raggedy Ann Doll is still in fine form.

Can’t believe I made the ‘nice’ list this year considering my stocking was stuffed with a battery operated cork screw, a battery operated cocktail mixer and a bottle of 2002 Dom Perignon!  Are you trying to tell me something or just making my vices a bit sweeter and easier to open?   Oh, the new PJ’s and slippers were the perfect touch and in quite good taste.

Hope you enjoyed the shot of Jim Beam and the Cuban cigar we laid out for you.  Figured you might need a wee nip to help you through the night; you know, just to take the edge off…and perhaps aid with the digestion of about 8 million cookies and those endless glasses of eggnog.  Ugh…don’t know how you do it and still drive that sleigh ~ YOU ROCK!

My Christmas List for 2011 didn’t include material things so you must have spent some time reading it.  Throughout this year you’ve given me one of the greatest gifts of all, friendship and love.  Not only for my family, but for the new friends in my life who have inspired me, made me laugh and filled my heart ~ you all know who you are.  I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the most precious gift of all, my darling Emily.  She’s a light that shines for me in so many ways and I’m more than thankful for her and all she has given to me.

It seems quite apparent that aside from all the glorious gifts and goodies, you bring us so much more: the desire to give and to receive with grace and gratitude; the inspiration to understand the deep and abiding spirit of love and hope that comes with the season and, of course, you, Dear Santa Claus.

Just so you know, I’ve never stopped believing and will always do my best to spread the spirit of Christmas all through the year.  But, um, since I’ve got your ear…next Christmas, may I please have another bottle of that Dom and an 8 pack of AA batteries.  THANKS!