Another sign Christmas is just around the corner in Costa Rica is blond, miniature reindeer appear in the backs of trucks and along the roadside. Their splendor for sale to enhance the holiday experience.

These reindeer are made out of wood shavings glued over a cotton, or I don’t know, some sort of fabric base. I suppose it’s like the inside of a baseball or a stuffed bird in taxidermy. Then for a final touch, the entire body is wound up with fishing line.

My attempts to get to the bottom of this tradition have been fruitless. As far as I can guess, some guy one day had extra wood shavings and well….you can imagine the rest of the story.

I happen to have one of these beauties. We got it when Coco was one. It had a tail then and didn’t smell like it does now. The horns have frayed and over the years; Coco has added features like eyes and a bow. (We’ve long lost the tail.)

Every year I leave Chippy, or Woody, or Dasher, or whatever it is Coco’s named it, until the last thing to put out at Christmas. I actually leave it in the closet, hoping she’ll forget. But the kid’s got a memory like steal trap.

We don’t dare put it in the rain. Imagine the things that would grow inside. It already sheds, and I hate to think what we’re breathing in every year. It just has that kind of creepy look like it’s going to chew out the back of ankles when I’m not looking. I’m pretty sure Addison sides with me on this one. For Coco though, this little dear is just another sign of holiday bliss.