Thank You, Santa, from a Maker Mom

To the Reader: You may know that I've been visualizing a local youth-based Maker program in Long Beach, CA for some time.  Well, it's happening... Slowly (or is that quickly?), but it's happening... Lots of folks have been helping, and I wanted to take time out to thank Santa and the Elves.

Dear Santa,

It's been a whole year since I wrote my Christmas List to you, and I was looking to see what I'd asked for and compare it with the gifts that you left for me throughout the year.  Sadly, I could not find my list...

I do know that a whole lot of dominoes, electronics kits, a 3D printer and a laser cutter were on the list.  And last year, Santa, I knew that we needed computers and monitors, but I'd thought we could get them from companies that were getting rid of their old computers so I didn't ask for them.

You did all right, Santa... You came through in a lot of ways...  Oh, I didn't see you delivering them and they didn't all come on Christmas Day, but you and your elves really helped out this year.

I didn't get dominoes or a laser cutter, but I did get lots of old electronics kits (I don't know where they are all from, but they magically appeared!) I think my brother, Joey is secretly one of your elves, because he gave me a whole lot of them.

And elf Diego, at DeezMaker, let me borrow one of his earlier models of 3D printer until I can afford to buy a Bukito for the program.  The kids are really enjoying playing with the 3D printer, Santa.  We joke that we have yet to print the perfect 3D print... We're working with PLA, and the designs we try to print are seldom manifold, but we're learning from our many mistakes.

And your elves at IBuyPower donated a whole lot of new computers, keyboards and cool gamer mice for us to set up a community-driven game development program at the Long Beach Sea Base.  Sweet!

And your elves at Sceptre monitors that donated a whole lot of hi-res gamer monitors for the program too!  We were able to set up some Power Gamer Stations (dual monitors to be used as incentive stations)... Cool!  North Pole sort of cool!

And Kevin Hinkle at The LEGO Group MUST be an elf, because he helped to coordinate a donation of a whole lot of playbrick that we use all the time!

And Friends Sarah Martell, Morio Murase, Caprice Rothe, Burk Murray, Gabriela Stiles and Jackie must be your elves, because they gave - are giving - a whole lot of their time to help get the program started.

And Santa, you knew that I was looking for three spaces so that we could spread the fun around Long Beach.  And what do you know, Santa?  You sent me the Long Beach BSA, the Cultural Alliance and my friends at GEE!

So, thank you, Santa.  If you were wondering, you're on my very nice list this year!

Love, Squigglemom.

P.S. Santa, you might think that we got a whole lot this year, and we did... but we have lots that we want to do, Santa, and I am making a new list for the elves this year.  I hope you don't mind that I'll be writing another letter soon...