December 23, 2005
searching for Santa
One of my family’s favorite Christmas stories goes like this: one year, when my brother and I were little enough that we still whole-heartedly believed in Santa, we went to Mass on Christmas Eve (thus dodging the Christmas morning crying of children who did NOT want to leave their toys to hear about some shepherds and some angels–my mother was raised Methodist and is very practical that way). On our way home, my brother was looking out the car window and he saw a light in the sky. And it was moving!
‘I SEE SANTA’S SLEIGH!’ he yelled. ‘We have to get home before he gets to our house!’
We raced home and pretty much went straight to bed, thus giving my parents a chance to have a romantic Christmas nightcap before they had to start assembling things. But my brother was CERTAIN that he had seen Santa (and not an airplane, which is what we all now agree he saw). I suspect that part of him still thinks he did.
Last year we told Henry that story, not about the airplane but about how Uncle Johnny saw Santa’s sleigh one year, and Henry was convinced (as we had hoped) that it was true and rode home from Christmas Eve dinner with his head smooshed up against the car window searching the sky for any glimpse of Santa. And yesterday he brought it up again. ‘Remember when Uncle Johnny saw Santa’s sleigh?’ he said dreamily, just as though he had been there and really did remember it. And I think maybe he does.
I told my brother about this, and said, ‘Henry seems to think that you’re the key to seeing Santa.’
And my brother said, ‘I think I am!’
This year we are having Christmas at my parents’ house with my brother and his wife and daughter, and I am sure we will be looking for Santa’s sleigh. In just a little while, we will be on the road to Albuquerque; Charlie has already told my mother that he is going to watch Wiggly Wiggly Christmas the WHOLE WAY THERE. I got on the phone with her after this and she said, ‘Your dad just came back from the liquor store.’ And if you can’t see the connection between those things, then I don’t think you can have Christmas with us.
So here is wishing all of you a peaceful holiday. May you have delicious food and plenty of martinis, and may you not be driven to distraction by those you love most in the world. And I will be back soon with photos of our holiday chaos.
Happy Christmas to all!
Posted by Susan @ 6:12 am • Uncategorized
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December 23rd, 2005 at 8:09 am, Kristen Says:
During a long trip through West Texas as kids, my brother and I also spotted Santa’s sleigh. Some of my best holiday memories are associated with that year. I hope Henry sees it! And I hope your dad isn’t driven to such madness that the Wiggles DVD mysteriously disappears. Merry Christmas!
December 23rd, 2005 at 8:18 am, The June Cleaver Diaries Says:
Merry Christmas, Susan! Have a Hot Toddy for me. BTW, what exactly IS a hot toddy????
December 23rd, 2005 at 9:29 am, Chag Says:
Have a great Christmas, guys!
December 23rd, 2005 at 9:31 am, John Says:
Some think a hot toddy is a beverage, but some think a hot toddy is this:
http://www.seahaas.com/toddrundgren/flash.html
December 23rd, 2005 at 10:26 am, Mary P. Says:
Hot toddies have rum in them, don’t they? And they’re hot. And they pack a pretty substantial wallop, I can tell you that… Oh, and then there’s wassail. Phew.
Happy Merry Christmas!
December 23rd, 2005 at 11:05 am, kyra Says:
i LOVE the image of henry with his face smooshed up against the window! i can so see it! i remember the year my sister and i vowed to stay up all night and catch a glimpse of santa. we both fell asleep on the stairs. so many holiday blessings to your whole household!!!
December 23rd, 2005 at 11:28 am, M&Co. Says:
Oh my god you must have been very very bad to deserve Wiggly Wiggly Christmas all the way home?
Have a happy, peaceful and liquor filled holiday!
December 23rd, 2005 at 1:52 pm, Jenorama Says:
I see the connection. Happy Christmas!
December 23rd, 2005 at 4:02 pm, adria Says:
Merry Christmas to your family. And the best of wishes in your travels to New Mexico with the Wiggles. Whenever we watch that video, it takes me days to get the songs out of my head.
Merry, wiggly, wiggly Christmas!
December 23rd, 2005 at 6:01 pm, Candace Says:
I wish you were coming here instead, but I’ll wish you a Very Happy Christmas anyway.
Don’t get drunk *too* early, ‘k?
December 23rd, 2005 at 7:24 pm, Laura Says:
I hope there are earphones involved in the Wiggly Christmas. Have a lovely, hazy, Christmas.
December 24th, 2005 at 2:11 am, Angela Says:
Meredith will be receiving the Wiggly Christmas DVD tomorrow morning. Part of me is terribly excited for her. Another (large) part of me is doinking myself in the head and screaming, “WHAT have you DONE?!?!”
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
December 24th, 2005 at 12:19 pm, Misfit Hausfrau Says:
Merry Christmas Susan and family! Maybe you SHOULD get drunk early–will make for funny funny stories!!!!
December 24th, 2005 at 2:17 pm, L. Says:
Merry, merry, happy, happy! All the best to all of you!
December 26th, 2005 at 8:51 am, mabel Says:
Funny stuff. That is what I am reduced to as far as witty comments go (at least today). My Christmas hangover sounds like it will in no way match your wiggles aided coma though! I hope it was all FANTASTIC! Have any wine left? Let me be the last to say Merry Christmas!