Dear Santa,

Dearest, darling Santa,

It's that time of the year, old friend. We've seen many Christmases, cheered them on their way with hot chocolate, sugar cookies, figs & dates, and beautiful gifts.

Anyway, here's my Christmas List, filled with all the things I most want to find outside the door of my loft on Christmas Day.

Rest assured, I've been a good (not bad) doggie, nice, not naughty, very little crying or pouting, and so forth. You know this since you see me when I'm sleeping and when I'm awake. I'm just reiterating the obvious just in case you've been distracted.

This list enumerates my Christmas gift wishes but I'd also like to hear from you. What present do you want? If you tell me, I'll do my very best to get it for you.

Mercury's Christmas List:

New home decor, preferably red
A doggie cam
Several small squeaky balls in assorted colors
7 chewy bones and a bag of greenies, large size
A pail full of doggy treats (big)
1 designer (Diamond) collar, pink or red
A TV of my very own
An Iphone 5 with ear buds
Please wrap it all with shiny crinkly Christmas wrapping paper and inside, wrap each gift in gold or silver tissue paper

As for Papa:

A black Mercedes, the E series
5 pair of comically colored socks
A British Air ticket to London (special deal with hotel included)
Also, a Chunnel ticket to Paris
A designer leather belt

Mama's list:

A 10ct diamond, Emerald cut, set in Platinum (she asked for it last year too)
Designer shoes with studs on them
A British Air ticket to London (special deal with hotel included)
Also, a Chunnel ticket to Paris
A large size silver bowl filled with caviar

Papa and Maman have been good enough this year to warrant the fulfillment of their wishes. They have taken good care of me (save that 1 time when they "inadvertently" locked me out of the house), they feed me lots of cheese, meat and ice cream, they take me on daily walks and weekends to the intramural fields where against all rules Papa lets me off my leash.

In sum, dear Santa, please visit us on Christmas Eve. You may come down the chimney but I'll also leave the side door open. If you want a gift from me, please write and let me know what you'd prefer. I can only buy you 1 gift because any more would be too difficult to carry home.

I love you more than words can express, my dear darling best friends, Santa.

--Mercury Murphy Roushanzamir