Editor:

Thanks to the jolly old elf who calls himself Santa Claus. Every year, my now-6-year-old son writes his letter, with a little help from Mom and Dad, and sends it off to Santa Claus at the North Pole. The list gets a little longer and its contents a little more intricate, but nonetheless it's what he sees fit for Christmas gifts.

Now as parents we know the letter gets mailed (postage and all) and where it goes from there, who knows? But this year, to our surprise, it must have made it to the big man himself. In our mailbox addressed to our son and with a return address of Santa Claus, North Pole, was a reply to my son's letter.

This is strange, I thought to myself. I wonder what is inside. I opened the letter and was taken aback by the handwritten reply to the letter we mailed. The item mentioned by Santa was exclusively written in the letter we had sent him. Wow, I'm amazed.

So, to that special someone out there who has taken the time to read and personally reply to the letter written by my son, when the curiosity of Santa Claus is at its peak, my family and I thank you! The precious gift of giving and the true spirit of Christmas has made our family all the richer.

Thank You!

Laura Young

Discovery Bay