Santa’s finished with another year
of gift giving
and flying through the air
in his sleigh
he’s on his way back to Fairy
where he will shed his red suit
join the Wild Hunt
and explore his dark side
but never fear
he’ll be back next year
pulled into our world
by the massive expectations
of humans
who demand that he do the impossible
Photo: Pham Nhat
Unsplash
this is Albert
he was such a great Santa
that his picture is put up in the kitchen
every year
I can’t be sure
but it looks as if Santa
visits other places
besides earth
how do they stay warm
the reindeer
I mean
it’s cold in space
but I suppose their magic
protects them
from radiation
and freezing temperatures
I wonder what kind of toys
are in the bag
for those who live off planet
do the elves make them
do the other beings
have Christmas trees
wrapping paper
string
ribbons
do they sing about
snowmen dancing
do they even have snow
is there cake
donuts
CHOCOLATE
these questions
and more
need to be answered
I think Santa knows more
than he’s telling us
and who took the picture
think about it
WHO TOOK THE PICTURE
Photo: Jacqueline Witkam
Pixabay
Dear children
I don’t watch you when you’re sleeping
that would be wrong
and illegal
I don’t watch you when you’re awake either
I’m not one of those creepy men
and I don’t have a list
of naughty or nice kids
your parents just say that
to control your behavior throughout the year
I bring presents
to everyone
because sometimes
bad kids
just have bad lives
it’s not their fault
I wish I could give everyone
the gift of love
but I can’t
love is not a physical thing
it’s mental
spiritual
an attitude
a sort of feeling
it can’t be wrapped in a box
and put under a tree
I do have reindeer
and they can fly
it’s shouldn’t be possible
but it is
as for Rudolph
I’ve taken him to the vet
at the North Pole
but his nose
is going to stay red
since nothing can be done
to turn it back to its original color
but he’s healthy
so you don’t have to worry
I bring gifts to the animals too
since they are the best of us
and believe me
you better be loving to them
or else an alarm goes off
in my office and I’ll know
so be kind
sometimes I wear a blue suit
instead of a red one
but no one seems to notice
the elves are not like the ones
you see in movies
they are just shorter people
with pointy ears
they dress in regular clothes
and are very serious about their work
quality matters to them
they don’t want toys to fall apart
so they do their best to
make them strong and long lasting
they have families just like yours
they have dogs, cats and guinea pigs
and they go to school
they aren’t that different from you
you should always be polite to others
and here’s a little something
that you might want to pass along
when you are finished building a snowperson
the second you step back to admire your work
the snowperson comes alive
and can feel the life around him/her
they can’t dance like Frosty
but they can delight in the coldness
in their being
so don’t SMASH them
let them melt
so they can feel life
until the last minute
before they nourish
the ground underneath them
and it’s okay to wish on a star or sun
they can’t hear you
because they’re too far away
but your message does go out to the universe
and the universe likes to hear from you
when someone tells you
to hold Christmas in your heart all year long
they just mean
be a decent human being everyday
be NICE to all living things
I know you can do that
Christmas isn’t a once a year thing
Christmas is an every moment thing
so take care of those who need help
put the worm you find on the sidewalk
into the grass
carry a lost turtle to water
feed and put out water for the birds
be nice to your mom and dad
they are doing their best
well
most of them are
don’t be selfish
it’s not easy being a human
in fact
it’s bloody hard
but you can do it
I know you can
the reindeer know you can do it too
and thank you
for all the milk and cookies
chocolate chips are my favorite
and the reindeer love their carrots
and sugar cubes
think about happy things
and enjoy whatever Christmas
brings your way
no matter how much
or how little
remember
life isn’t easy
life isn’t fair
and life can be mean
but you can be kind
no matter what
and keep in mind
that the spirit of Santa
only exists
because you believe in me
and one more thing
Santa’s skin
is the same color
as yours
no matter who you are
love, Santa
🎄
Photo: Srikanta H. U
Unsplash
Rerun
cows all over the world
are trying to fly
so they can pull
Santa’s sleigh
this year
***
Ralph (below)
has been practicing
since the idea was first born
he’s doing very well
unfortunately
what he’s doing is
a lot more like jumping
than flying
this is Elizabeth
she has been leaping
over the field all day long
she is also doing very well
having said that
she still has a long way
to go
but we wish cows everywhere
good luck
and the suggestion
that they might want to wait
until next year
especially
when you see Mabel
who didn’t make it over the fence
Photo of cow No. 1: Mary Ann Parchym
Pinterest
Photo of cow No. 2: Gerad Koudenburg
Pinterest
Photo of cow No. 3: wiilliam hrust
Pinterest
Dear children
I don’t watch you when you’re sleeping
that would be wrong
and illegal
I don’t watch you when you’re awake either
I’m not one of those creepy men
and I don’t have a list
of naughty or nice kids
your parents just say that
to control your behavior throughout the year
I bring presents
to everyone
because sometimes
bad kids
just have bad lives
it’s not their fault
I wish I could give everyone
the gift of love
but I can’t
love is not a physical thing
it’s mental
spiritual
an attitude
a sort of feeling
it can’t be wrapped in a box
and put under a tree
I do have reindeer
and they can fly
it’s shouldn’t be possible
but it is
as for Rudolph
I’ve taken him to the vet
at the North Pole
but his nose
is going to stay red
since nothing can be done
to turn it back to its original color
but he’s healthy
so you don’t have to worry
I bring gifts to the animals too
since they are the best of us
and believe me
you better be loving to them
or else an alarm goes off
in my office and I’ll know
so be kind
sometimes I wear a blue suit
instead of a red one
but no one seems to notice
the elves are not like the ones
you see in movies
they are just shorter people
with pointy ears
and they dress in regular clothes
they are very serious about their work
and quality matters to them
they don’t want toys to fall apart
so they do their best to
make them strong and long lasting
they have families just like yours
they have dogs and cats
and they send their kids to school
they aren’t that different from you
you should always be polite to others
and here’s a little something
that you might want to pass along
when you are finished building a snowperson
the second you step back to admire your work
the snowperson comes alive
and can feel the life around him/her
they can’t dance like Frosty
but they can revel in the coldness
in their being
so don’t SMASH them
let them melt
so they can feel life
until the last minute
before they nourish
the ground underneath them
and it’s okay to wish on a star or sun
they can’t hear you
because they’re too far away
but your message does go out to the universe
and the universe likes to hear from you
when someone tells you
to hold Christmas in your heart all year long
they just mean
be a decent human being everyday
be NICE to all living things
I know you can do that
Christmas isn’t a once a year thing
Christmas is an every moment thing
so take care of those who need help
put a worm you find on the sidewalk
into the grass
carry a turtle to water
feed and put out water for the birds
be nice to your mom and dad
they are doing their best
well
most of them are
don’t be selfish
it’s not easy being a human
in fact
it’s bloody hard
but you can do it
I know you can
the reindeer know you can do it too
and thank you
for all the milk and cookies
chocolate chips are my favorite
and the reindeer love the carrots
and sugar cubes
think about happy things
and enjoy whatever Christmas
brings your way
no matter how much
or how little
remember
life isn’t easy
life isn’t fair
and life can be mean
but you can be kind
no matter what
and keep in mind
that the spirit of Santa
only exists
because you believe in me
and one more thing
Santa’s skin
is the same color
as yours
no matter who you are
Love, Santa
🎅🏻
Photo: Pixabay
some people celebrate
Yule
the return of the light
longer days
time for planting
and growing things
some people celebrate
Santa and his flying Reindeer
they dream of presents
and decorated trees
of milk and cookies
and a fat stranger
breaking into their houses
leaving fabulous gifts
of puppies and kittens
still others
think of a baby
a donkey
lambs and shepherds
but there is no truth
other than what each of us
personally believes
all of the above celebrations
are meaningful
to those who love them
no one is better than another
the pagans
welcomed the light
I’m all for that
a lot of us love presents
trees
and flying reindeer
still others
are all about
a manger
it’s what you were raised
to believe
the only thing that’s actually true
is that the season’s
change and there will be
more light
and a time for planting
most reindeer can’t fly
and if a fat stranger was in your living room
I don’t think you’d be giving him milk and cookies
even if he had presents in a sack
and few believe in wise men nowadays
but none of that matters
because all of life is a fantasy
and we are the authors
of that story
so make up whatever you like
celebrate the return of the light
watch for Santa and the reindeer
think about babies being born
and just have a good time
opening presents
and being together
🌞
Rethinking Life 
Written
on December 1, 2025