I answered the phone and there was heavy breathing. “Santa, is that you again?” There was just some mumbling, but the area code on my phone was definitely the North Pole. “I heard about your tachycardia, that and how the doctor put you on anti-depressants.”

Santa just “uh-hm’d” on the other end, agreeing.

“You need to take it easy. You can’t burden yourself with the economy, it’s not your fault and you’re not going to create miracles.”

“Miracles are what I do,” he ho-ho-ho’d.

“Well, yes, but even you have limits. Just listen to you, you’re voice is all raspy.”

“I’ve acquired a cough.”

“And you’ll acquire more if you don’t chill out. Pneumonia is going around like the plague. Even I got it this year.”

“My elves are healthy.”

“Good, but I’m still worried about you.”

There was more heavy breathing on the other end. Was that static or the rattle in his lungs? Even though I’m saving money without Verizon, this new service doesn’t have the same coverage.

“I’ll be fine.” Santa said good-bye and hung up.