Poor Ol' Santa

According to the latest study, the ITU (ITU World Telecommunication/ICT) claims that the worldwide Internet population has doubled since 2005, and by the end of 2010, will exceed 2 billion. This year alone, 226 million people have gained access to the Web.

What I don't know is how many of that crowd are seniors. Quite a few I would imagine. As for me, I have a cell phone for emergencies (and special occasions) so I don't need a Blackberry (or its expense). I have an Ereader so I don't need an Ipad (I used gift certificates to buy my Nook). In fact, there are oodles of electronic devices I don't have, want or need. But I am not inclined to give up on my Webpage or laptop, not yet, especially with potentially 226 million more people tuned in.

In our modern generation with all its advantages (and disadvantages), I don't envy poor ol' Santa. He's stuck reading handwritten (and scribbled) notes, has innumerable Elves to do his bidding (I don't think he has outsourced the job the Elves do very well), and travels by sleigh with a few well-disciplined reindeer who cover the globe in one night. Not bad considering that he could use a 767 or its equivalent.

He (Santa that is) is still married to his wife after how many years and I am not sure if they have any children. If so, my memory escapes me. And that ol' red suit still fits him although I suspect he has been urged to lose some weight at his age but he seems to do just fine. And imagine, cookies and milk in how many homes during his journey, and what that could do to his girth. But then, he has a year to diet somewhat.

I suspect Santa would be tempted to trade off his sleigh and give the reindeer a rest and succumb to the temptation to use the Solar Express but think of how many little ones would be disappointed not hearing the clatter on the rooftop. How he manages to go up and down those chimneys without getting any soot on his suit escapes me.

Just when Santa Claus will modernize no one knows, and if they know, they aren't telling. As for me and a zillion little ones around, I hope he keeps those reindeer, polishes his sleigh, and stays married to Mrs. Clause for a long, long time. Some things ought to stay the way they were, don't you think?