Sustaining The Myth

When children are small, grownups will go to great lengths to keep the myth of Santa Claus alive. This year, I was witness to truly heroic efforts.

You've heard, no doubt, of leaving out cookies and milk for Santa but did you know the reindeer need sustenance, too? Our granddaughter, who has reached the ripe old age of nearly four, put out a carrot and a raw sweet potato for the reindeer, next to the cookies and milk.

To enhance the idea that Santa had actually been there, the cookies were consumed and half the milk drunk. We even ate the carrot, leaving just the stem end on the plate. For true realism, however, it was determined that a few bites must be taken out of the sweet potato to convince Mia that the reindeer had enjoyed it. It was dutifully passed from grownup to grownup.

The things we will do for our children! Ho, ho, ho!