Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
For many years, as a child, I remember that on Christmas Eve, around 8:00 pm, the phone would ring. Mom always answered the phone and announced that Santa had been spotted on our street. A few minutes later, Dad would say, “I thought I heard something at the door!” Our family always stayed in the den at the back of the house, and sure enough, Santa walked through the door carrying a big bag of presents. This went on for at least three, maybe four years.
I was so excited that I forgot he was supposed to come through the chimney. I was a little suspicious because after he left, I would run to the backyard and look for the sleigh and reindeer, but I never spotted them.
Ready or not, here I come!
The last time Santa visited our den, I noticed a distinctive ring on Santa’s finger. The ring belonged to Brownie, our next-door neighbor. By using my deductive powers, I figured out who Santa was! Then it all came together: he always arrived at 8:00 pm, the phone always alerted us of his arrival, he always went through the back door, and I never saw or heard his sleigh or reindeer.
Ratchet forward twenty years! I got to play Santa for my nieces, Hannah and Lisa. I remember excusing myself and going to the garage to put on the suit. Sue assisted me in stuffing the pillow in my belly, and right before I departed for our back door, Sue reminded me to take off my ring. Sue was also aware that the next-door neighbor was Santa when she was a little girl!
We were up and moving around 7:00 am, planning our day, which now consists of a trip to Macy’s for a new dress for Dr. Mary, then to Orange Hills Farmers Market to get steaks for tomorrow night’s early birthday dinner. Robin and Bob will be coming over, and Chef Bob will perform magic on the steaks and whip up some of his twice-baked potatoes. We will supply plenty of grog and dessert. In three more days, I will turn 81, and I am hoping the old body will return to normal!
