Dear Kid,

Once upon a time, there was a little reindeer with a cold. Because he blew his nose all the time, it turned very red and almost glowed.

That’s not the real story.

Once upon a time, there was a Viking named Rudolph. Because of the color of his beautiful beard, he was known as Rudolph the Red. On one trip he visited Santa at the N. Pole and people used to say, “Rudolph the Red Knows Reindeer.”

Not the real story either.

Once upon a time there was a rabbit with a red nose and …

Nope. Still not the story.

Once upon a 1939 there was a big department store called Montgomery Ward. They asked one of their copywriters to create a children’s Christmas story that they could give away to all the children who came to visit Santa. Rudolph (other name options considered were Rollo and Reginald) was a huge success.

After several years and several million copies of the book, a major publisher asked Montgomery Ward for the rights to the book.

In an act that defies modern business practices, somehow Bob persuaded Montgomery Ward to give back all the right to the book back. Seriously. And Bob got rich. Then Bob’s brother-in-law (Bob was remarried by then) wrote the song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. A lot of celebrities didn’t want to record it, but Gene Autry (he was a famous singing cowboy in those days) recorded it and it sold more copies than any other Christmas song (except for White Christmas which is the perennial Numero Uno on the Xmas List).

Happy Reindeer.

Love, Mom

Dear Kid,

‘Tis the night before Christmas and we’re off to visit family today.

We accidentally went to the mall yesterday—I had forgotten how much I love the huge mobs of people engaged in last minute shopping. Not. Fortunately, we were able to park (a major accomplishment), get in, purchase, and get out without too much trouble. And without permanent injury.

In the parking lot of the mall we went to, there was a car was set up. The one we saw was apparently an outpost of the main car wash service which was nearer the front of the mall. The idea is to have your car washed, waxed, buffed, and BeDazzled while you shop. I’ve never seen anything like that before. Because we’re so trend focused, I’m sure it will show up in Cincinnati in about 15 years.

It is lovely to walk outside without worrying about mittens and boots. It got a little on the toasty side yesterday mid-day (into the 90s). I assume this is more or less what Christmas in Australia feels like. One of the preschools around here brought in snow for the kids to play in. Unfortunately for the organizers, the kids (quite correctly) identified that snow is cold and wet. The older ones (four and up) were willing to play with it a little, but the younger ones decided to wait for the snow to melt and the world to return to normal.

Merry, merry. Jingle, jingle. Ho, ho, ho. And all that.

Love, Mom