Christmas Memories

I believe in Santa Claus, in some form or fashion, don’t you? Well, when I was a little girl Santa came to my house pretty early on Christmas Eve, mostly because we had to be at Midnight Mass by 11 to get a seat, and because we were headed to my Grandmother’s house early the next morning. Good thing he knew our schedule, huh??

My older brothers were “good sports” and would help hide me while “he” came to deliver my toys. Santa rang a familiar bell and later I would come to find out that it was the one that sat in the curio cabinet of our Grandfather clock! It seems like I remember the sound of his reindeer’s hooves on the roof too, but I am not exactly sure how he would have managed that! Maybe I just made that up in my head. But whatever sounds I heard, the anticipation was almost too much to bear as I waited to see what was left under the tree each year. My best memories of gifts that Santa delivered included a Little People doll house (that my mother still has) and a lavendar bicycle with a banana seat – loved that bike! Can’t you all just picture me in my leg warmers and slinky bracelets, toolin’ around the neighborhood on that baby?? Oh, I did love to ride my bike…
Anyway, my memory has faded over the years but I am sure there were many other gifts that I was infatuated with – those 2 just stand out in my mind the most.

I don’t remember what age I was when I learned that Santa wasn’t one, jolly red-suited man, but I have never stopped believing that the spirit of his being is always alive in our hearts at Christmas, especially when you have children of your own. Many people have asked Ben what he has asked Santa for this year and his reply is always “A Thomas engine.” Gee, imagine that! I only hope that Tim and I can create some of the same memories for our children that our parents did for us on those Christmas Eves and mornings.