Up the Gulf of Mexico
One of my favorite sections of the route is coming up—we're flying down the eastern coast of Florida. From the skies and through the clouds, you can see the twinkling lights of the coast coming into view. I enjoy seeing long stretches of sandy beaches, even in December. As I watch the waves crash, for a moment, I dream of summer vacation.
Moving along through the night, we come to the vibrant city of Miami. I get a good view of South Beach—the city skyline is always glowing bright. At the tip of Florida is where Chauncey lives. He's now 11 and wrote me a letter this year, asking for a new surfboard because he's too big for his old one. He's going to be terribly excited when he sees what Trisha Elf made for him. A seven-foot board that went through our Art Division, complete with a cool graphic of Chauncey's name so everyone knows it's his.
We have a couple hundred houses in Key West. The islands' laid-back atmosphere always makes for a few unique stops. There's this one house that leaves treats for each reindeer, nine goodie bags to go. A couple of islands later, one of my favorite stops of the night leaves me some freshly cooked crab and butter. A great snack before heading back north.
Then we go up the Gulf Coast of Florida, heading through the Tampa Bay area. The reindeer and I get a great view of the Gulf of Mexico sparkling under the moonlight. The gulf’s gentle curve will lead us westward, through Alabama and Mississippi, guiding us toward one of my cherished stops.
“New Orleans, one of my favorite cities.” A delightful city with culture, history, and plenty of music. The French Quarter, with its ornate balconies and lively streets, always captures my heart. The sound of jazz fills the air even late on Christmas Eve night.
There are two children here in New Orleans that I am grateful I get to deliver to.
First, Heather, a 16-year-old brunette girl who still believes in Santa and the magic of Christmas. It’s rare for someone of her age to hold onto this belief for so long. Teenagers usually fall off my list. I’ve been visiting Heather since she was a baby. My elf crew and I have seen her grow from a wide-eyed toddler to a thoughtful teenager. I remember the doll we gifted her when she was five, the princess costumes when she was seven, and the new bicycle when she was ten. Each year, Heather still writes me letters, always filled with hope and happiness. This year, we have a few blank comic books and a new set of colored pencils for Heather to create her masterpiece.
Next on my special list is Kahlil, a 13-year-old boy who is now near the top of the Nice List. Kahlil’s story is one of being selfless and taking responsibility. With his mom working nights, Kahlil takes care of his two younger sisters. He cooks dinner, watches over them, and gets everyone to bed on time. This young boy is acting like the older brother that he needs to be. I admire Kahlil’s dedication and love for his mother and sisters. The elves crafted this new, light up RC car complete with ramps so Kahlil can perform flips and tricks in his backyard.
From here, we fly North, up the Great Mississippi. We still have plenty of night ahead of us, but I’m already thinking about visiting a red-haired girl, Jessie in Memphis. It's the memories that these kids create for me that make every moment worthwhile.
Alright, Donner, we’re off to the next house.
