Marti Miller-Willoughby
contributing writer
the Reindeer Clause
Of course you already know Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen, along with Comet, Cupid, Donder
(which good old Microsoft Word 2010 wants me to change to Dodder or Dander – and no, the name is NOT and never
has been Donner), and Blitzen. Then there’s old red-nosed Rudolph – a quite well-known hooved Santa sled puller.
But, do you recall Clause? Yeah, didn’t think so. I hadn’t heard
little more time dealing with the rabbit thing at Easter instead of
of him either until very recently. And that is most likely because I
just rolling over on the Christmas weirdness and red coffee cups.
made him up…very, very recently.
The reindeer Clause is simply a figment of my imagination,
as in Santa Claus. And that’s because the “e” makes it a more
and we all know how that works. Or doesn’t. I was quite busy
dangerously difficult word (and reindeer). A clause is something
pondering Christmas and merriment and childhood memories
to be feared in most cases – whether we’re talking about a gram-
(both mine and my children’s) when what to my wandering mind
matical clause or a legal one. Both should give us reason to run
should appear but one very tiny reindeer named Clause.
screaming from any place that even talks of a clause, reindeer or
He never pulled Santa’s sleigh or pawed the roof of anyone’s
no. Or, we should at least be armed with the support of our most
home or even gnawed on carrots left by children who think about
frighteningly accurate English teacher and/or a crafty attorney
such things as special snacks for Christmas deer. Clause pretty
to guide us through our clause situations. The reindeer Clause,
much stayed around the North Pole and hung out with the elves.
by c