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Perspective: Oh, Little Elf!

Jill Wellington
/
Pixabay

Some Christmas memories begin in childhood.  But one of my favorite traditions began well into adulthood, in bed on Christmas morning, while waking up to NPR.

That was the year I was introduced to the writer David Sedaris, as I listened for the first time to his recollections of the holidays in what has become an NPR Christmas morning tradition, The Santaland Diaries.

I smiled, then giggled, and eventually belly laughed as he described the challenges of being Crumpet the Elf at a large department store.  The scenes and verbal exchanges -- whether real or imagined -- were outlandish enough to be funny yet realistic enough to be believable.

As he launched into a few bars of Away in a Manger as Billie Holiday might have sung it, my laughter continued.  And, to this day, when I hear the words, "Oh little elf.....little elf," a smile returns to my face as I remember that Christmas morning over two decades ago.

If by chance you have never heard this literary gem, I hope you will find time this Christmas to enjoy it.

I'm Jim Kline, and that is my Perspective.

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