Several weeks ago as I was sitting at my computer contemplating how I was going to scrape together some extra money to pay for Christmas presents, I decided to look on line to see if there might be any inspirational words of wisdom as to how I could accomplish this last-minute search for cash. The tried and true popped up--get a part time job, watch a neighbor's pet, have a garage sale. Yes, all good ways to bring in money, but none of these were of much interest to me. I kept scrolling through, hoping something would catch my eye.
As I was about to give up and start rummaging through my closets to see what I could sell off, something appeared that I'd really never thought of doing before: Write Santa Letters to Children. As a freelance writer I knew this was something I could do, but getting the supplies together, finding customers, writing letters, mailing them off--well, it just seemed like a daunting task. Yet, I had to remind myself that I wasn't in the position to take on a job at our local department store, so this might actually be the perfect solution for me. I just had to remain disciplined and focused, and not give up, as I often do.
I began reading as much information as I could as to how this would all work. I looked for ideas as to how to write the letters and what to include in them. When I thought I had a pretty good handle on it, I started sending email to neighbors and friends in my town. I really didn't think I'd get any response, but that wasn't the case.
The first person to write has two sons that attend the school my son goes to. Her sons are six and nine and she wanted letters for both boys. I quickly made up a questionnaire and sent it to her, asking about her sons, their teachers, friends, hobbies, foods they like--the list went on. She sent back the questionnaires in a few days, and then I was on my way. But how in the world does a 40-year-old woman craft a letter to young children making it sound like it's coming from a cherished icon who has been a part of our story-telling culture for oh so many years? I decided that all I had to do was think like Santa!
My imagination carried my through the writing process. I told the boys about the reindeer, the North Pole, the elves, and Mrs. Claus. I told them I was checking lists and getting the sleigh ready for the big journey. I told them that Rudolph had been busy polising his nose so it would be nice and bright on our journey around the world. I also made sure to include the boys' names several times in their respective letters and refer to the school, their teacher, and other pertinent information.
Okay, so I now had two under my belt. This didn't seem too difficult, I thought, and it was rather fun. As a freelance writer, I'm used to writing non-fiction articles for magazines, so I've never really tried my hand at writing fiction. I could do this. Good thing, because the e-mail and calls began to come in from parents wanting letters. In fact, on November 11, as I was walking with my younger son's Cub Scout Pack in the town's Veteran's Day Parade, one woman pulled me aside and said she wanted to talk with me about 'the letters.' She ended up purchasing five; two for her sons, two for relatives, and one for the neighbor girl. I was stunned. More calls came in, and by the time Thanksgiving rolled around, this Santa's workshop was in full production.
Most of the letters were happy and joyful, but one letter will remain with me forever. It was for a 7 year old girl at my son's school whose father had died the day after Chrirstmas two years ago. I felt rather guilty taking money from the mom, but she said she wanted to do this for her daughter. As I read through the questionnaire, tears came to my eyes. The mother wanted me to write that the girl's father was looking at her from Heaven and that he was very proud of her, and he wanted to thank her for the balloons she sent to him in Heaven. He also told her he was with Uncle Tony, and that they were riding their Harleys together in Heaven. My, that was a difficult letter to write.
But as the requests continued, my creativity began to expand, and I started adding more to the correspondence. I included a "Good List" certficate with the main letter. I also purchased rubber stamps and decorated the envelopes with red and green stars, candy canes, Christmas trees, and snowmen. The best thing I learned how to do was how to get North Pole postage cancellation marks. Once the letters were complete, I bundled them up into a padded envelope and shipped them to North Pole, Alaska, for their Christmas mark. I sent out my first batch December 1 but I wasn't quite sure when they would arrive. I think I was as excited as the parents were.
My first sign that they had arrived happened December 8. As I was entering my son's school one mom took me aside and discreetly showed me that her daughter was clutching her letter and planned on sharing it with her class that day. Apparently, she gave it to the teacher and the teacher read it out loud. That night at the grocery store, a clerk who had purchased a letter for her nine year old told me that her daughter did the same thing, taking it to class to share. Apparently the students in that class were so inspired they all pulled out paper and began to write to Santa.
Since that day I have received numerous email from parents telling me that their children were overjoyed at receiving a 'real' letter from Santa. One mother wrote: 'The Santa letters that Julie drafted for my children were tremendous. The post mark was from the North Pole along with Rudolph's nose print on the outside envelope. My children were so happy to receive these letters in the mail. They were awestruck that Santa actually sent them a letter with all kinds of information just about them, their friends and family. I have two children but the letters were different; they were unique just like my kids. The letters made my kids day and they are still talking about it.'
For something that merely started as a way to buy my sons' their Christmas presents, this has certaily turned into something more. It shows me that there still is a certain innocence in our world and that we need to let children be children--to believe in wonderful characters like Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny.. there's nothing wrong with a little fantasy and using one's imagination. Just to see the children smile when they open their letters and to know that I've made a little bit of difference in their lives, and their family's lives, has been absolutely wonderful. Again, it's been a great deal of fun, and I feel as if I have dozens of new friends--even if they don't know me by name--because I was able to bring the Magic of Santa directly to them.
