The year without a Santa Claus. Or elves. Or eggnog. Or a North Pole.

There are years when we return to the North Pole, vacuum up the tinsel, brush off the glitter, and resume the 365 days of holiday celebration. Sugar cookies and candy canes taste great in February too, you know!

When we returned to Santa’s fortress this time, we were surprised to see that it wasn’t there. Elves often joke with us that they “Can’t listen to our constant Christmas caroling anymore,” or they prank us by sending us to “Meet Santa” on remote islands, or strange caves that always seem to have rockslides blocking the exit when we try to leave. But this time the entire North Pole — Toy Factories, Bakeries, the pit where the fruitcakes are held, and even Eggnog Lake— missing. Not there. VANISHED!

We searched the forest for weeks; we followed trails of cookie crumbs that just led us back to our own sleigh. (Jingle had a hole in his cookie pocket,) and we interrogated all the forest creatures, (yes we speak Squirrel,) but couldn’t find a clue as to what happened. Eventually, we decided to write Santa a letter, letting him know that we would return to San Francisco and wait there until he called for us. We dropped the letter into the mailbox, gathered our ornaments, and headed back to California.

We’ve been snuggled in here, watching Christmas movies and planning our 2024 season. We’ve been working on some exciting new projects, and continuing our search for Santa. Jingle is building a gingerbread robot that we will program to fly through the air, and look into people’s windows at night to see if they are holding Santa hostage. So far Gingerbot 5000 has only been able to frighten the upstairs neighbors and leave gumdrops everywhere.

Maybe Santa’s fortress will reappear soon. Until then, we’ll keep the Christmas spirit alive in San Francisco, because let’s face it, sugar cookies and candy canes taste great in July too!