BOB BESTLER

Dear Gov. Sanford:

Thanks for the nice notes you recently sent.

I'm glad we have a governor with a sense of humor. Some of your more rabid supporters don't, you know. Ah, well, I guess they're Republicans.

I also received, secondhand, the Christmas card you recently sent out.

It's pretty nice, too, but it confused a few of us in the newsroom.

First, you see, there was the Sanford family photo on the front of the card. It was a great photo of y'all, but no one could figure out where it was taken.

We thought, you being the governor and all, the card would show something in South Carolina.

You know, maybe the beach, maybe the mountains. Maybe the Confederate monument in Columbia or the family farm in Beaufort.

But this one didn't look vaguely familiar, even to those of us who have driven around the state. (It's hard to leave the beach, as you may know.)

Oh, we took a few wild stabs. Zane Wilson mentioned the Frontenac Hotel in Quebec City, Quebec. I thought maybe Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Fla.

Not even close.

A call to your office and we learned it was, ta-da, West Point Military Academy in New York.

Well of course. It's another step in teaching the boys, and all the rest of us, the wonders of military service. (Speaking only for myself, let me say I get it, Governor. I get it.)

The other thing that seemed odd was the letter that came with the card.

It was one of those folksy messages that brings everyone up to date on the family's past year - even those who don't care.

I read it; and all I can say is, boy, what a year you guys had!

First, you moved to Columbia, then you took over as governor, then you worked on the state budget, then you tried "to bring a brighter and even better future for all South Carolinians."

Wow.

Makes my life seem pretty puny, huh?

Let's see.

I wrote a bunch of newspaper columns that made some people mad. And I played a lot of golf and nobody got hurt.

Yeah, that's about it. Pretty puny.

It was good to hear that Blankie Bear loves the mansion as much as y'all do and that the kids are well and growing.

Did I mention my kids are well, too? They're a little older than yours, but one of them's growing, too. That's because she's pregnant, ha-ha.

Well, I'm glad we were able to have this folksy little chat, Guv.

Back at'cha on all the holiday greetings you sent.