Dear Santa...

NORTH POLE (by way of Hamilton, Ohio) – Sometimes the messenger is more important than the message. 

Maybe that was Rhoelyn’s thinking. She created the only paper airplane found among the hundred or so letters to Santa Claus stuffed in the Fitton Center’s North Pole mailbox this season. However, when the plane unfolded, there were no gift requests on the inside, just a couple of red and green hearts on the hull of the plane near her name.

Speaking of things that fly, Michael wished Santa the best Christmas ever while asking for a new train and a toy helicopter. One note gave an enthusiastic greeting – “HI THEREEEEEE!!!” – and nothing else.

Evelyn offered some specific thoughts on her gifts, including a phone/tablet/laptop, purple and white Christmas pants, a plain white jacket with a zipper and an ornament with her name. She also made it very clear how to spell her last name. Santa certainly won’t confuse her with anyone named after a local grocery giant. 

Olive illustrated the Santa backpack she’d like to see under the tree.

Kehria folded her note into a tightly constructed, self-contained envelope addressed to Santa in green. On the inside it read “Dear Santa, I miss you & Merry Christmas! I want a new squishy bear, the hair. Love Kehria” in red and blue. 

One young artist went a couple months retro, decorating a note to the Big Guy with jack-o-lantern stickers that called Halloween more to mind than Christmas. Karter went a couple decades retro, asking for a Rubik’s Cube.

Kendra went all Mariah Carey and told Santa, “All I want for Christmas is you.” Oliver evidently has a long history with the Jolly Old Elf, writing, “I love you Sonta ‘cause evry Crismis you give us persints.”

Wylie asked for “peace and ccheer, Neerf, snow and La Boo Boo,” while Ella presented a flawlessly spelled list with the addendum, “I’ve been extra good this year! I’m even student of the month!” Eleanor claimed, “Dear Santa, I can be good for Christmas.” (Editor’s emphasis on can. Miss Eleanor said nothing about whether or not she was good for Christmas.) Harlyn professed her love for Santa while admitting, “We are sorry that we were bad.”

More than one kind child asked Santa to bless all the boys and girls in need – and one even asked Satan to do that, too – while a handful of letters indicate some people are struggling this holiday season. One read, “Dear Santa, please put my family back together,” another said, “I would love to feel love” and a third simply read, “Help!!!”

Leo, Gus and an unsigned letter all asked Santa for an elf, while another unsigned note asked Santa for a dentist set, perhaps in homage to Hermie the Elf from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Dan sounds like – and has the tidy handwriting of - a grownup. Based on his request for a Rolls Royce Phantom, Merecedes 560 SEL, 2003 Jaguar XJR and a warehouse, it also may be safe to assume he’s both an automobile enthusiast and a practical adult who wants to protect Santa’s investment.

No matter what you wish for this holiday season, we at the Fitton Center hope you and yours receive the simple one-word gift we found about two thirds of the way through the letters to Santa.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.

Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture