What’s your favorite day of the week? Mine’s Thursday. It used to be Saturday back in my working days, but now … in retirement, pretty much every day is Saturday. But Thursday is now my favorite day because that’s the day the two weekly newspapers I subscribe to arrive in my mailbox. Well, not my outside mailbox, but my computer mailbox.

I subscribe to the online version of the two papers I’ve been reading for many, many, years: The Adams County Record and the Billings County Pioneer. They allow me to keep track of the goings-on in my hometown (Hettinger) and my adopted hometown (Medora).

Both were headed for the trash heap, with about half of the weekly papers in America, just a few years ago, when they were rescued by a lady named Jill Friesz from Elgin or New Leipzig, N.D., or somewhere around there, and now they have new life, much to the appreciation of those of us who only can observe Hettinger and Medora from a distance.

So this past Thursday, Jill published some Letters to Santa from some of the little ones in the schools in those towns. This is not new. She’s been doing it for years, and I’ve been reading them for years. But this year, some of those letters seemed special, so I thought I’d share a few of them with you.

BELFIELD KINDERGARTEN

Dear Santa, I have been good this year and I am wishing for a PS5. Love Colton (I had to Google PS5 to find out what it is. I am old.)

Dear Santa, I am wishing for a baby wiener dog. Love, Madison.

BELFIELD FIRST GRADE

Dear Santa, I am wishing for a foosball table, IPad, and a sled with an engine. (Pretty ambitious for a first grader, I’d say.)

Dear Santa, This year I have been nice. Here are a few things I am wishing for: a Goku Plushy (I had to Google that too), a puppy and I want to go to Disneyland. Love, Mateo.

BELFIELD SECOND GRADE

Dear Santa, this year I have been nice. Here are a few things I am wishing for: a phone case, a finger monkey and a PS5 and the case has to be purple. Love, Hazel.

BELFIELD THIRD GRADE

Dear Santa, This year I have been naughty (but I can explain). Here are a few things I am wishing for: An Elf on the shelf, a toy horse that has a bendable body and a Nintendo Switch please (Googled that), and a snow globe. Santa you are the best. Love Maxine.

Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is a great Christmas and to have fun. Thank you, Santa. Love, Harper.

PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY SECOND GRADE

Dear Santa, I have been good some of the time. Here are a few things I am wishing for: If you could get me a little food and money for my unicorns and a dentist kit, please. Love, Katie.

PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY THIRD GRADE

Dear Santa, this year I have been good some of the time. Here are a few things I am wishing for: I want a go-cart and a heifer, I want some Domino 3027 semen (Google THAT!). Love, Caleb. WELL …

Dear Santa, here are a few things I am wishing for: X-Box, 3D printer, Blox Fruits plush, Blox Fruits Lego sets, (more Googling). Love, Canyon.

DE MORES ELEMENTARY FIRST GRADE

Dear Santa, I want new spurs. Love, Birch.

Dear Santa, here are a few things I’m wishing for: I want my dad to train my horse, earbud and a phone and iPod. Love Oaklynn. (A first-grader!)

HETTINGER FIRST GRADE

Hi, my name is Amaya and I am 6 years old. May I please have a toy unicorn? My dad would like a $100. How many elves do you have?

Hi, my name is Eliot and I am 7 years old. May I please have a Jrmin sheprd dog? My dad would like a new truck. How old are you?

Hi, my name is Lillian and I am 6 years old. May I please have a real live kitten? My sister would like a real live randeer. How many randeer do you have in all?

Hi, my name is Kaycee and I am 7 years old. May I please have a Glittr girl bluebell (Google it) with brown her and a bunk bed and a dog? My brother would like a semi truck cars. How many elf’s do you have?

Hi, my name is Sunlyn and I am 6 years old. May I please have a Elf on the shelf? My dog Icke would like a new chew toy a bunny. How old are you?

AND THE ONE THAT TUGGED AT MY HEART, FROM A SECOND-GRADER AT DE MORES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MEDORA

Dear Santa, I have been good this year, and I am wishing for my dad to feel better, squishmallows (one more Google), smart phone, TV. Love, Hannah

Merry Christmas, everyone, from Hettinger and Medora!