Those Questions

Herself speaks.

There are some socially acceptable, seemingly benign, questions, that I thoroughly dislike. The holiday season is positively rampant with such questions. We grit our teeth, smile politely, and move on through.

The one I dislike the most right now is:
Was Santa Claus good to you this year? 

Oh, dear. Where to begin? This seems like such a materialistic question to me, as if the person is asking: how much money did people spend on you? Furthermore, there are two components in there: money and people. The holiday season can be difficult both financially and people-wise. Some individuals may have a paucity of both. Let's not ask that question any more. Instead, let us simply say, I hope for the very best for you.

It is a miracle if you can find true friends, and it is a miracle if you have enough food to eat, and it is a miracle if you get to spend your days and evenings doing whatever it is you like to do, and the holiday season - like all the other seasons - is a good time not only to tell stories of miracles, but to think about the miracles in your own life, and to be grateful for them, and that's the end of this particular story. - Lemony Snicket