These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

I Remember A Christmas

I remember a Christmas ....

.... actually two Christmases .... about my kids. The first was when my son was about 3 or 4. We had tucked a big item into the back of our closet with several things in front to hide it. Scott wanted so badly to have a suction cup combo set that came with a pistol, a rifle and a blow gun that shot soft suction cup darts at a target. The target was the big part. As I recall, it was as tall as he was and stood on a stand. The target couldn't be disassembled for easy storage.

It was just a day or two before Christmas, and my sister and her family as well as my parents were visiting. Scott came strutting out of the hall into the living room with a self satisfied grin and announced that he knew what he was getting for Christmas. We thought he was guessing and asked him what and he told us about the find in our closet. I was not amused. We didn't have much time to exchange it, and that was his "big gift," the one that Santa would have left.

We told Scott that it was unfortunate that he had snooped around. Now it was going back to the store, and goodness knows what Santa would think of his behavior. Oh.... my.... gawd! You would think we had pulled all his baby teeth from his little mouth at one time! He wailed and screamed and cried crocodile tears, promised to be good, threatened to run away, the whole exhaustive routine! But his daddy carried it to the car and drove off.

And we both felt like dying. It was mean to do that, yet to preserve the ideal of Santa, what choice did we have? We didn't have the money to buy a replacement gift. We talked with my parents and my sis and brother-in-law, and came up with a plan.

After Scott went to bed on Christmas Eve, a rather sad and quiet boy. He had spent the remaining time being very compliant and apologetic. My sister wrote a note so Scott wouldn't recognize our handwriting, and it was attached to the target. It said something like "Dear Scott, Here is the target you asked for. I hear your mommy and daddy got one for you, and that you went snooping and found it hidden. That's too bad, and I hope you will never do that again. I know you're not a bad boy, and I think you've learned your lesson about snooping at Christmas time. I think your parents won't mind if I bring you one. Love, Santa."

Scott was a very happy little guy, and he promised his daddy and me that he would never do that again. I don't think he did.

~~~~

A few years later, and my daughter was at the age of struggling with the concept of Santa Claus. She was probably about 9 or 10. Her friends were saying there wasn't a Santa, but she was hanging in there, hating to give up such a wondrous belief. She was probably leaning in the direction of not actually believing, but not wanting to blow a good thing!

My husband's aunt and uncle were usually gone at Christmas time. They spent winters in South Texas at that time. For some reason, Uncle Mac decided he wanted to wait and leave after Christmas that year, and they were coming to spent the day with us. Aunt Quin was delighted. Her sister, my mother-in-law, was with us every Christmas, and it would be the first time they'd been together for the holiday in many years. It would be a great year for all of us!

We went to bed late, as parents always do on Christmas Eve. The next morning, Uncle Mac was so excited that he got Aunt Quin up very early. Upon arriving at our house sometime around 5:30, I think, Mac took a rack of big sleigh bells and ran all around the outside of our house, ringing the bells and shouting "HO, HO, HO!!!" It took a long time to wake us up. He had given up and was almost to ring the doorbell when my hub went to the door to see what idiot was making noise!

Meanwhile, Terri had wakened, but when she heard the bells and ho-hos, she was afraid to get out of bed, because Santa might go away and never come back! She ducked under the covers and tried really hard to go back to sleep! She couldn't, of course, but she was certainly hoping that Santa didn't know it .... remember, the song tells us "He knows if you're awake"!!! Finally, to her relief, the noise stopped and she knew he was gone. She just hoped she hadn't blown it!

We adults thought the celebration that morning went well, happy, but nothing out of the ordinary. Terri, of course, knew that it went splendidly! She had saved the day, convincing Santa that she was still asleep like she should be, as witnessed by the plethora of gifts from the jolly old guy under the tree.

It wasn't till years later that we all pieced the details together. We didn't know she heard Santa, and she didn't know Uncle Mac had bells. Terri went to school and smirked at her friends as she told them about hearing Santa's jolly laugh and the reindeer's bells. Her belief passed the usual age by a long shot.

16 comments:

  1. You have such great stories, I have enjoyed reading your Christmas memories. I have some that are similar in content. And I'm really glad that Santa was "saved" that year. I still believe....
    Have a very Merry Christmas,
    Kim

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  2. Thanks, Kim. How can we not still believe, right?

    BTS .... don't you think it's about time you start your own blog???? :D

    Jus' sayin'!!!

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  3. Lyn such sweet memories.....Hmmm Kim needs her own blog lol Maybe shes like me....so much to learn, so little time lol

    Ruth

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  4. What precious memories! I hope you are keeping a book, for your children. So very special.

    Merry, Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family. I hope you all have a joyous and peaceful celebration (and some good doggie treats)
    Love and blessings

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  5. What great stories. Thanks for sharing.

    Hope you have a wonderful Christmas my friend.

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  6. Those were great stories.
    Who says there is no Santa.
    He live in every one of us.
    As kids we believe in him until we learn the truth then by the time we have kids we discover him once more in the eyes of our children and resurect him from our hearts once more as we become Santa.

    Merry Christmas to you and yours

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  7. Ruth, hey! watch the dissension in the ranks there!!

    Cheryl, I've written my "memoirs" for my kids. These stories are in it. :) Thanks!

    Julie, you, too!!

    Caroline, thanks and you're welcome! I hope yours is good, too.

    Thanks, Walker, and I agree with you. Merry Christmas to you, also!

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  8. What wonderful memories!

    Merry Christmas

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  9. I love that story. It reminds me of when I was just a little kid and we had moved into an old, creaky house. Thinking I had heard a noise late night Christmas Eve after everyone had retired for the evening, I rose from my bed, peeked around the corner and saw a flash of red. Dove back into bed and under the covers. I knew it was Santa and I didn't want him to know that I saw him. I did have trouble convincing my much older cousins that my story was true.

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  10. Dave, what a great story! Now I understand you words recently, and I agree .... you DID see Santa!

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  11. OH Lyn, I love those stories....you truly captured the essence of Christmas ... believing~

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  12. If we lose the belief, we will lose Christmas. Plain and simple.

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  13. I still believe in Santa and he comes every year to my parents house.

    I love the memories.

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  14. MJ, I'm glad I can spark some memories with stories of my own. :)

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If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!