Every year, my children write their letters to Santa, listing all the things they want to receive on Christmas day. When they’re done, they seal their letters in an envelope and lay it on a basket in the front porch. The basket always has a red ribbon with a ”magic bell” tied at its center. My wife and I tell them that when the wind blows, the bell rings, and Santa’s elves arrive to pick up the Santa mail.

We kept at this tradition for several years. Then I got a job transfer to the city, and we moved to a condo unit within walking distance of my office. It was a great place, we loved our new home, until Christmas came along. And then my daughter came to me with a dilemma. We didn’t have a porch, there was no place to put the basket, and the elves couldn’t find the letter. Could we call Santa instead?

“It won’t be expensive, Daddy, we can use your phone,” she said. She was referring to my VoIP. We’d made countless of long distance calls to her friends back home (it was one way of making the move easier for her), and we always talked to Grandma at least an hour every few days. Even at six years old she knew VoIP was convenient and inexpensive. So why couldn’t we call Santa anyway?

I was at a loss. Do I break the Santa myth? Do I ask someone to pose as Santa and dial his number? Do I tell her Santa didn’t have a phone? Someone as cool as Santa was bound to have VoIP. How else did he talk to all the Santa helpers on the street corners?

Luckily my wife rescued me from the dilemma by suggesting we leave the basket in the park. “I already called Santa, honey, and he said it he would pick it up from there.” Great! Now if only “Santa” can afford the Xbox 360 this Christmas.