After a dark, snowy, and windy night, I awoke from my bed to the sound of
barking and yipping in the front yard. Pulling on my robe, I made my way through
the chilly garage and put my shoulder against the door to push against the
several feet of snow that had drifted up against it. After several heaves, the
door finally opened enough to allow me to slip through. Immediately, I regretted
my wardrobe choice. (Standing in a couple of feet of fresh snow in your slippers
will do that.) Looking around, I was greeted by a fellow adorned in a fur parka
and a red stocking cap. "HO HO, eh?", he said. The dogs harnessed to the sled
sat quietly as he approached. "Hi dere! I got a Special Delivery fer ya from
over da border!" The dogs looked at me pensively as I took the package from his
gloved hands, my toes and nose turning blue. "Ha, you'd bedder get back in da
warm house. Happy Holidays, to ya!"

I dashed back inside with the package tucked under my arm. Reaching the radiant
glow of the wood stove where the fog on my glasses finally cleared enough to
see, I glanced at the label to see where it had traveled from. The return
address read "Oakville, ON". What could it possibly be? I don't remember any
recent auction winnings from Canada. Turning the securely wrapped package over
in my hands, I could see the hand-written message "Galootaclaus - Open XMas
Eve".

To be continued....

Bob Page
In da U.P. of Michigan