When I was a little kid it was often up to my Dad to get us kids out of the house on Christmas Eve so my mother could finish wrapping the presents. I remember these Christmas Eve nights fondly. We would head out into the snowy night to some of the nicer housing additions in town to Oooo and Ahhh at the Christmas lights and displays. We would travel down the snow covered roads slowly gazing at the houses adorned with brightly colored twinkling Christmas lights. Although none of them compared to Clark Griswald’s house or the house in “Deck the Halls”, they still were magical as they twinkled in the night.
One Christmas when I was small we were driving through a housing addition not far from home when we spied none other than Santa Claus standing beside the Christmas tree inside the house. Being impressionable little kids who believed without a shadow of a doubt that if we were not home in bed asleep when Santa arrived at our house he would pass us by, we begged to hurry home. If Santa was in this neighborhood, it wouldn’t be long and he would be on our street!! This was serious!!! We had to get home and in bed asleep quick or we would be screwed out of Christmas.
As soon as the Ford Ranchero rolled to a stop in our driveway, we were scrambling out and rushing up to the front door. My mom came rushing out to see what all the commotion was about. My sister and I were so excited we were talking at once exclaiming that we HAD to go to bed NOW! Santa was on his way!! I don’t remember anytime before or since ever getting into my pajamas that quickly or my teeth brushed that fast. Soon we were hanging our stockings and rushing to bed. Normally I would have begged my Dad to read me “The Night before Christmas” before I went to bed. Not this Christmas Eve. There wasn’t time!! I jumped into bed, covered my head and held my breath in eager anticipation. Did I hear the jingle bells of Santa’s sleigh?? Was that the pawing of the reindeer on the roof??? I screwed my eyes up tight!! When would morning ever come?? Before long, to my utter horror I realized I forgot the cookies and milk for Santa and the carrots for the reindeer!!! With my heart hammering in my chest, I flew out of bed and raced slipping and sliding in my footed pajamas on the hard wood floors to the living room.
My stocking still hung limp and empty. I wasn’t too late!! My mom helped me assemble Christmas cookies and carrots on a paper plate and a glass of milk. I placed my offering on the hall table near where our stockings hung. With another kiss good night, my mom tucked me back into bed warning me to go to sleep. Now everything was ready and Santa Claus could come. Although I don’t remember when I fell asleep, in what seemed an instant I awoke. It was still dark in my room. With a toy flashlight, I hurried from my bed and tiptoed out to where my stocking had been hung. To my delight, the stockings were packed to overflowing and seemed to sparkle in the light of my flashlight. The cookies and carrots were gone save for a few lingering crumbs! I raced to wake up my older sister and together we descended on my parent’s dark bedroom screaming “Merry Christmas!! Santa has been here!! Get up!!! Hurry! “ We jumped up and down on their bed in our exuberance.
Once upon a Christmas, I actually saw Santa, anticipated Santa’s arrival, and celebrated when he in fact had made an appearance. Santa Claus may be a myth to some, but for those that believe like me…the shiny bell from the fascinating movie “The Polar Express” will forever ring. That is all I have to say until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.
When I was a little girl it was a big deal to make a Christmas list every year. My mom and dad always encouraged me to. They cared about what I wanted for Christmas and moved heaven and earth to ensure that my Christmas wishes were realized. I would think long and hard about it often scanning the toy catalogs for ideas. Then I would present it to my mom and hope for the best. I always memorized the things I wanted most and made sure I told Santa Claus when I visited him, just to be on the safe side.
As I grew older things began to change. Once my mom died, my dad took over the task of collecting Christmas lists. By then I was an adult, and my dad put a money limit to how much he was willing to spend for each of us. I would scour the Sunday ads of the newspapers for all the sales flyers and give my Dad the heads up for where he could find what I wanted for the cheapest price. Unlike my sister who was only ever interested in cold hard cash, I wanted presents to open!! I would construct my list showing the items I wanted including where he could find them on sale. Might as well get as much out of that dollar amount as I could, right?? I still was surprised, because I never knew what my dad would choose to get me off my list. Where my dad put a limit to what he intended to spend, my mother took my Christmas list and usually got every single thing on it plus. To say Christmas’s were merry and bright at our house was an understatement.
Once both my parents were no longer living, the task of fulfilling Christmas wishes fell to my husband and me. As you get older you begin to understand how it all works. You still keep the spirit and fun of Santa Claus alive for your children, but you begin to pray for Christmas miracles and do the best you can to ensure your kids have a Merry Christmas. My kids haven’t produced a “list”, because I am sure they trust that I already know what they like and would want. Not only that, they know that Santa Claus knows what they want as well as how naughty or nice they have been. When I seen this challenge, I hesitated even writing it because I know the need for Christmas lists went out the window with our growing maturity and sense of responsibility to ensure we have a roof over our heads, heat, electric, and food in our bellies. After all, Christmas is only one day a year. You still need to eat, have shelter, and the bills paid regardless. Bill collectors don’t care if it is Christmas. They want paid. Period. Kind of heartless like Scrooge, but a fact of life.
So this Christmas, my list has dwindled to a few things. Honestly, I don’t even have a list . I know all to well the state of the checkbook and the ever growing pile of bills. It almost seems pointless to make a list. Still, since I am pressed to make a list I want everyone in my little family to have something to open on Christmas day plus a Santa sock filled with small treasures and surprises. I want a Christmas meal with all the trimmings. Most of all, I want to be home enveloped in love, laughter, and happiness enjoying it all with my husband and children. Bless my sweet husband, he has always managed miracles and made sure each Christmas was better than the one before. He is my Mr. Make it Happen, my special Santa Claus.
Since I am leaving it to chance, I will just have to see what transpires. That is all I have to say until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.
