Tracking Santa - And Getting Good News

When Dad worked at the TV stations, he used to make sure his meteorologists spent a fair amount of time tracking Santa on Christmas Eve. Of course, they couldn't do it by themselves. They always got help from NORAD, which has been tracking the Big Guy for more than 50 years.

(Pictured at right): The girls get ready to spread reindeer food in the front yard.

So this Christmas Eve, Dad pulled out the laptop and dialed up NORAD's website to show the girls where Santa had been and where he still had left to go. At six o'clock, he had only crossed over part of Europe and was heading south toward Africa. As part of their tracking capability, NORAD also has a few "Santa Cams" set up around the globe to actually get video of him making his stops. They also provide a map that shows "Santa Sightings."

What we didn't know, though, is that you could e-mail Santa right from the website - and that he would respond! We sent a message telling him that we had left some food and water out for him and his reindeer and that we anxiously awaited his arrival. Much to our surprise, about an hour later, we received a reply!

Here it is:

Greetings From the North Pole! It's Christmas Eve & my sleigh is loaded and ready and we have prepared the final flight checks with NORAD for our trip around the world! All this running around is helping to keep us warm because we have had some very cold Arctic air come through here lately!

My elves, Chuckles and Buckley, will make sure any last minute requests get sent via email to the sleigh. The reindeer are ready for their Magical flight and have been eating their Magical Corn! Do you remember what makes the corn magical?

I am pleased to see that you are on the NICE list again this year and we are so proud of you! Have you guessed the secret ingredient in the reindeer?s magical corn? It is LOVE! The reindeer enjoy their magical corn, but it is the love of the children and Christmas that keeps them going!

Stay happy and remember to share the magical love that comes from the heart!

You should have heard the cheer and seen the huge grins on the girls' faces when Dad read the part about them being on the "Nice" list. Julia just about jumped out of her pajamas. It was great news and probably explained why they were up at 3:47 the next morning studying everything that Santa had left behind.