Christmas in August

What better time to think of the cold joy of Christmas than when facing the heat (or storms, fires and floods) of August?

This week's objet d'eBay comes from the father of modern adult fantasy; father of linguistic theories; father of the Elvish language; and father of four kids, children to whom J.R.R. Tolkien originally wrote the letters collected in the book over 20 years.

Although Tolkien took his St. Nicholas in eccentric directions as he wrote tales to his children, the heart of his father is still the same as the model, the 3rd century Turkish Bishop of Myra, who was legendary for traveling in his red bishop's robes and giving to the poor, especially boys and girls.

Mystical, somewhat mythic, eccentric and a giver to boys and girls. An everyday definition of most fathers.

** Did the jolly Father Christmas ever change a diaper? **