I wrote the following for a writing group that I am a part of on Tuesday evenings. Enjoy!
A Page from of the Journal of Annabelle Claus
December 23, 1959
As I kissed my Nicolas goodbye this morning, I reminded him, “Now remember what Doc said at your annual visit in July, and with my best Irish brogue, I mimicked Doc’s words verbatim; “Now, don’t you go letting one little night trip undo all of your hard work of these last six months. You go and eat only a bite of the cookies and have your helpers enjoy all of theirs, but saints be declared, the very next day it’s back to the program for you, Nicolas” The doctor was a wee Irish lad that loved the North Pole and moved North with his wife and seven wee ones three Christmases ago. Some said it was the scenery; others knew the truth of the matter and the cold and difficult travel did keep his mother-in-law at home; her home on the Emerald isle, that is,
My Nicolas always planned for his annual physical exam to be in July when he was always was at his peak physical shape but after several months at the Pole ole doc had joined the other men of the Pole for his morning coffee break at Shinynickels. The sledders, miners, fishermen, and Santa and many of the elves were really old Jim’s only customers. When Nicolas’ workshop reopened every year on July 1—that’s when the letters started coming in from children in Australia and New Zealand where it’s winter down under— Jim cut back his hours. Half of his customer base had become busy, busy, busy. He’d take off for fishing singing something about a cat’s cradle.
My Nicolas always made New Year’s resolutions, and they never vary—get fit, lose weight; and then take Annabelle to Hawaii during my October vacation. I’ve yet to see any surfers riding the curl. My departing words this morning to my dear Nicolas, “Remember, Nicolas, just one bite from each cookie. The elves have a metabolism that matches their pointy ears. They need to eat the whole cookies left for you at the houses they visit—but for you, one bite only!” As I headed out the door to my mother’s house for our annual cookies bake-athon and preparation for the First Day of Christmas Feast, I knew I needn’t worry about myself being in bikini shape any time soon.
Update: December 23, 2010
Hawaii was wonderful again this year! When Nicolas brought back the news in 1962 that many people were foregoing the celebrations of the Twelve Days of Christmas due to the increase in the price of partridges, gold, and the ladies dancing, lords leaping, drummers drumming from the Actors Guild, we decided to limit our feast days to the first and the last. What would Christmas be without the celebration of our Lord’s birth and the visit of the Magi honoring Jesus as the new King.?
As I kissed Nicolas goodbye this morning, heading off to Mother’s for our annual visit to the new spa that’s opened down on Polar Bear Lane, I reminded him to dodge all of the satellites, take only one bite of each cookie, and of this year’s motto which Nicolas and the elves would pronounce on every house visited, “Joy to the Whole World—and Let it begin in YOUR Heart!”
Mimi
