Pasco postal carrier has Santa's back

PASCO -- Santa's got his work cut out for him in the Mid-Columbia this year.

As word has gotten out that he has a particularly good helper at the Pasco post office, a few hundred letters arrive there every year.

Most come from the Mid-Columbia, but there also are a few each year from across the United States that find their way to Pasco.

They come addressed to the North Pole, Polo Norte, the Arctic Circle or in one case, on a folded, torn half sheet of paper, "For Santa, Take it to the North Pole."

They end up at the computer of Lori Cramer, a rural route carrier.

She reads every one and if she can figure out a return address, sends a reply. A return address of "My House" may be enough for Santa, but Cramer needs a little more help.

Santa tells her, "Hey, Lori, I need your help because there are so many letters."

At least that's what she tells her curious 8-year-old daughter who sees her spend her evenings answering piles of letters on Santa's behalf, often with a personalized note or an answer to their questions about the reindeer or Mrs. Claus.

This year "electronics are huge," Cramer said. "It's all about iPhones and (Nintendo) DSi's."

But there also are perhaps more letters than usual this year from children who would be happy to have anything left at their homes Christmas morning.

"I always believed on you OK," wrote one little girl in Mattawa. "I have your write last year a lots but you never come. Why? Am not a bad person."

One of her brothers says it's because there is no Santa, she wrote. But she wishes Santa would bring a car and a coloring book with stickers to one of her little brothers and chocolate and stickers to the other.

Some children wrote that there would be no Christmas tree at their houses this year.

"I'm so sorry," wrote one child. She's still hopeful Santa will deliver "the Dream Town House that they show on TV" and some Hot Wheels toy cars for her brother.

"It doesn't matter how many in the pack," she wrote.

But most of the children writing letters to Santa are confident that the North Pole is recession-proof and Santa can make nearly anything happen.

Shaunessy was so certain of what she wants that she wrote Santa in November.

"I want this sooo bad," she wrote. "If you could I would like a horse farm to open up that we could buy in Connell and that it will be cheap and we will be able to sell our house for a lot of money."

Isaac sent Santa a list of 33 presents, starting with "1. A one way ticket to fame." Number 3 was $20 and by number 30 he was thinking of others, asking for "Something Gramma would like."

Tristan had an even longer list, asking for 79 presents, including a football, a PC, DSi, a gift card, "a picture of you Santa," and "a new back door."

Most kids sounded extra good this year.

"I help my mom and dad doing the dishes," Lara pointed out.

Good thing, because her list, although short, was extravagant. She asked for $20 billion and a PSP gaming system.

Bryson, who helps his parents in the kitchen, wants spy gear and an "anteak."

Puppies remain a popular request, with many kids already naming the dog they are hoping to find under the tree.

Sierra's hoping for a Labrador that no doubt will live up to the name Sweet Pea. And she also needs a new shell for her hermit crab, she wrote.

Quinn already has a dog, and wrote on behalf of it and his friends's dog. "Here are the things I think they want for Cristmas," he wrote. They'd like a doghouse in camouflage, doggy steps, dog snacks and rawhide strips, he guessed.

Just in case Santa has trouble finding any of the good children this year, several offered some helpful pointers.

Christian and Ellie reminded Santa they would be at Grandpa Roy's in Oregon this year. He can bring Christian's iPod and Ellie's crayon sharpener there.

"I live in Kennewick, WA," McKenna wrote in a business-like letter. "It's about 4 hours away from Seattle."

He sent a belated thank you for the .22 rifle Santa brought last year. This year he's hoping for a hamster or a laptop.

MacKenzie sent a long, chatty letter reminding Santa that he likely remembers her from all the e-mails she's been sending him. She's been saving up for a handheld video game player for a long time, but if Santa would bring her one she could use her savings for games, she said.

"P.S. When you deliver the presents if you have time, can you put our names on them so we know who's is who's?" she asked.

Jesus has his summer planned out. He told Santa he needs a tent, a tent bed, a fishing hat, a fishing suit and a fishing pole.

Maxwell was similarly single minded. He wants a tool bench, a tool box and an engine kit.

Santa won't go home to the North Pole empty handed.

Bee says she wants to give him "a wig and some peanut butter jelly sandwich."

And one little girl promised more than milk and cookies this year. "We left you presins," she wrote. And she ended her letter with two boxes for Santa to check "yes" or "no" for how well he liked her gifts.

Maleyna has a lot of faith in Santa.

"Santa don't frgit the kids that have cansre and pore people," she wrote. "Hlep them soviv."

Even if Santa can't do everything, Cramer knows that at least some wishes will come true.

"I hope I get a letter back from you this year," Shailey wrote.

That's one Santa can check off his list thanks to Cramer.

-- Annette Cary: 509-582-1533; acary@tricityherald.com