Health requirements for flying reindeer waived by State Agriculture Department

Normally The Telegraph's Political Notebook on Saturday is filled with all sorts of political fighting and event announcements. However, I was happy to read about a recent action taken by our beloved Commissioner of Agriculture, Tommy Irvin, last week. His office issued the following press release to share the good news:

Georgia Commission of Agriculture, Tommy Irvin, has granted a special 24-hour permit waiving the routine identification and other health requirements for nine flying reindeer slated to visit Georgia on the evening of December 24 and in the early morning hours of December 25.


The permit application was filed this week by a North Pole toymaker who signed the paperwork "Kris Kringle." The reindeer named on the permit are: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Doner, Blitzen and Rudolph. Identification, laboratory testing, and certificates of veterinary inspection are part of Georgia’s health requirements which assist officials in protecting the health of animals in the state and help prevent the introduction of exotic diseases.


“After consulting with our state veterinarian, Dr. Carter Black, I concluded these reindeer did not pose any threat to Georgia agriculture or violate any of our biosecurity measures to keep out animal diseases,” said Commissioner Irvin. “As it was explained to me, these reindeer will be moving quickly, will only prance and paw on rooftops and will not intermingle with any livestock in Georgia.”


“Usually, few creatures are stirring that night,” Dr. Black added. “Not even a mouse.”


"We are pleased to grant the temporary waiver to Mr. Kringle,” said Commissioner Irvin. “I and the employees of the Georgia Department of Agriculture wish him safe travels as he and his reindeer make deliveries to the good children of Georgia."


Now I don't know about everyone else, but I'm glad to see one of our public officials in the holiday spirit and doing something we're proud to share with our children!

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Our House is Always Open...

On Christmas Eve, our house is always open. We enjoy the family and friends who drop by during the day. There's always a lot of laughter, a lot of people and a lot of food. We just finished making a very large dish of tiramisu', the dressing for the tomatoes and mozzarella and whatever else we could do in advance. It's a lot of fun, and since Christmas began with a young mother-to-be for whom there was no room in the inn, it seems like the right day of the year to open the door to our home. We're grateful that we can.

Really, this year, we have a whole lot to be thankful for. This time last year, my sister was recovering from very serious brain surgery. She was home from the hospital but doesn't remember us being there for Christmas last year. This year is different. She played the organ for her church this morning, and her son-in-law accompanied her on the violin. This year, no one in our family is in the hospital, and several scary diagnoses have in the end turned out well. Everyone has a job. Everyone has a place to live. Everyone is either doing what they love to do or has the opportunity to improve their situation. No one is mad or estranged from the family. And, I'm so aware that none of these things are something we've earned or somehow deserve-we're lucky, and keenly aware that this time next year, I could be writing a very different post, or none at all.

So, if you're in Macon tomorrow, our door is open. And, if not, we wish you a very, merry, Christmas!

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