Suzanne’s Corner
IT’S ALL ABOUT …
Oh my gosh, my private line just rang. It was the “RED Santa Phone” and an ELF said “HELLO, IS THIS THE ‘ALL ABOUT COLUMN’ lady?” In amazement I answered, “Well, YES, it is, and who is calling?” The Elf said, “This is Shinny-up-a-tree, please stand by, Santa is calling!” I gasped. He doesn’t call me very often, but today I wasn’t expecting it! In the background I could hear that familiar sound…HO-HO-HO and then “HELLO, SANTA HERE”.
I answered, “Hello Santa, it’s been over a year since I heard from you. How is everything up in the North Pole? Are you almost ready to visit the children for Christmas? And, especially, how are all the elves? Please give me an update on each one of them!”
Santa said, “We are almost ready, finishing up the last toys and packing the sleigh. Here’s an update: Elf, ‘Alabaster Snowball’, you remember, he’s in charge of the ‘NAUGHTY AND NICE’ list. You better BE NICE and make sure he knows you are on the NICE list! Elf #2 is ‘Bushy Evergreen’ who invented the toy making machine. He loves to carve wooden toys that the kids really like. He’s super busy trying to finish up his requested list of toys. Elf #3 is ‘Pepper Minstix’ and is my personal bodyguard, oh yes, and of Ms. Santa too. He’s working out and staying in shape just in case he has to jump in to guard me! Elf #4 is ‘Shinny-up-a-tree’.
He’s the one that just called you. He’s my oldest and most trusted friend of all the elves. Elf #5 is ‘Sugarplum Mary’. She’s the head of our sweet treats and helps Ms. Clause in the kitchen as her assistant. She’s wonderful and a superb cook. We all love ‘Sugarplum Mary’ because she keeps us well fed with candy and cookies. Elf #6 is ‘Wunorse Openslae’.
You know about him as he wears jingle bells all year long and is responsible for making the sleigh bells ring on the sleigh as well as overseeing the reindeer. He’s pretty busy too, trying to keep the reindeer well fed and ready for their long trip.
All the elves are doing great, staying well and getting ready to make this Christmas a memorable year for Santa’s trip to visit all the kids all over the world. You know it’s a really tiring night, but we manage to do it every single year. Once I get home, I normally sleep for about a week! Thanks for asking about the elves!” After listening to the update, I thanked him and continued to wonder why he called.
Santa said, “The reason I called was I heard…(I hear everything, you know) that you gals, actually you ‘FRIENDS’ of the Atlanta Public Library in Atlanta, Texas are having your annual Bake Sale on December 2nd at the library. It’s always a great fund raiser for the library and it’s how you gather donations from homemade yummy sweets, cakes and cookies, to award the library staff a yearly bonus. I was thinking I’d make an early trip. You know how much I love cookies and I’m betting there will be a lot of them. The kids, and actually the adults too, can take a moment and say HELLO and snap a picture or two. What do ya think?”
“Oh Santa, that would be absolutely wonderful”, I said. “You remember how warm and fantastic Texans are, how much we all love Santa, Christmas, and especially, Baby Jesus? We’ll get a place set up for you to take pictures, with a plate of cookies beside you on a table! How ‘bout that?”
“And, in the meantime, the community can come to see you and tell you what they want for Christmas, grab a sweet treat, leave a donation for the library staff, visit, take a picture, and maybe look around to see how great the library is…especially the children’s section in the basement. We will be anxiously looking forward to your visit and seeing you on Dec. 2 from 3-5.”
The Bake Sale actually goes all day from 10-5, library hours. Y’all come and see what a super library we have in the city of Atlanta, Texas and become a part of “Friends of the Library”. (Only $5 to join Friends as an individual.) We always have a great time working together, with a great staff, for a fantastic library. SEE YA for Santa at the Library.
(Elf names and facts from the internet)