Caro Babbo Natale !!

.. the killer words that won me a grand gift. As I mentioned in my previous entry on x-mas, Babbo Natale is the Italian version of the american Santa Claus. I was talking to my friends at lunch today and mentioned that I got a gift from the Santa Claus. My friend started telling me that her son also got one. I was so excited to compare the gifts. Apparently the one he got was a fancy microscope, while mine was some kind of a poor man's version of it.

I asked her "so how did he get it?"

"well, upon my son's reminder I left a note outside my door for Babbo Natale, and next morning we found the gift in the balcony.."

"really?? You get a gift just by leaving a note outiside?? And so quick?? For me it was a longer procedure .. .. " I continued with all the excitement that revealed my childishness, innocence, naivety, stupidity, immaturity, or whatever one may call it depending on how much they like me.

"yeah, but the kid was slightly disappointed that while Babbo Natale did his duty, Santa Claus failed on him .. (Babbo and Santa are essentially two names from the same person)" she continued with a pause "I can only buy so much .."

At this point I could not hide my smile, which after filling my heart with the happiness that "I, and O-N-L-Y--I, was the proud recipient of the gift from the R-E-A-L Santa", narrowly escaped from my lips in a focused beam (I tried reading some poetry lately, x-mas break was a bit boring). Without further ado I told them about the gift I got, a little magnifying glass with several embedded lenses, which gives it the look of a kaleidoscope. And also told them about the letter I received from him. As is the problem that many great people face, no one was willing to believe me. I had to show them the gift and the letter before I could silence them in a wide gape.

Subconsciously drawing some inspiration from Calvin and his dear friend Hobbes who always write to Santa Claus with a big wish list, I sent a letter written to Santa Claus "Caro Babbo Natale (Dear Santa Claus) .. ". With a friend's help, I wrote this letter in Italian. What I did not realize then was that I could get a much longer reply in Italian (any way, that's a trouble for later). I mentioned that I was a good boy in 2008 and expected my reward. Sealed the envelope tightly, wrote my complete address at the back, and at the front wrote "To, Babbo Natale". I was a little too shy to show this letter in the postoffice for asking for the stamps.

"Can I please get stamps for 3 Franks please?" I added two 'please's in the sentence so that they would not bother me.

"What would you need it for, Sir" the lady at the postoffice counter asked me picking up the uncertainty in my voice over the stamps I would need. I should not have used those 2 'please's, she knew I was upto something.

Being a little secretive about my plans, I carried another envelope as a decoy. I showed it to her and asked for the right amount of stamps that I would need to send a letter similar to this ..

".. but to where? I mean which country?" the cashier in the counter asked me. Couldn't she just S T O P asking me these SILLY questions? Come on, but I can not get angry. After all,this is probably going to be the last recorded event for the year before Santa makes his decision. I took a deep breath and calmed myself down. I couldn't say north pole. Could I?? I stammered and said "S w i t z e r l a n d". Before uttering every syllable, I was thinking may be I should tell her the true destination. Finally I took twice the number of stamps needed for sending it within Switzerland. Stuck the stamps on my envelope with no address but the recipient's name, and dropped it in the mailbox. In US, over paid stamps and lack of complete address usually raises suspicions about the security of handling the letter. At least that is what a note sent out in our university said ".. in you case you see such a letter, be warned that it could be an attack on the university".

The second day after it I looked up my mailbox to see if the letter would be returned back to me for want of complete address. Third day .. Fourth day .. I did not get any letter. One day I saw a lot of Russian candies keeping a hand written note safe in place on my desk. The note, allegedly from Santa, mentioned my work in science, my good deeds, and then finally when I was about to believe it it said " .. but you did not buy a X-mas gift to your Russian friend". I knew it who the 'Santa' here was. You see I am a little grown up to be fooled this way. It was kind of him anyway, but it's not the same thrill as hearing from Santa. X-mas and even the new year's day went by. Finally the work week started and I forgot about all that happened. But to my surprise, I found a colorful envelope with a card and a magnifying kaleidoscope!! Hurray .. !! But was it an act of mischief by one of my friends?? Could not be. The card had a very long letter (in Italian, now I wish I sent my letter in english) about Gesu Bambino and was signed off by Babbo Natale.

The letter was from Bern. So, now I am glad I did not send my letter to the north pole. I know Santa does not live there, or at least in winter he prefers being on the ski slopes of Switzerland, or is it from the UN head quarters in Geneva that he operates normally?? As it is clear, after I received my very well deserved gift I had more questions than answers .. but these questions are satisfying in their own way.

(thanks to the Swiss postal department for the gift. If they had not put their big fat logo on the back of the card inside the envelope, I would have definitely thought it was by one of my friends. Once again thanks for making my day !!)