Dec 15, 2007
I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.
''Is this a Christmas present for someone?'' the lady behind the counter
asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.
''Yes, ma'am,'' I replied shyly. ''It's for Bobby.''
The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed
a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a
bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of
the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and
ribbons and wrote, ''To Bobby, From Santa Claus'' on it. Grandma said
that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.
Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk.
Then Grandma gave me a nudge. ''All right, Santa Claus,'' she whispered, ''get going.'' I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally, it did, and there stood Bobby.
Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering,
beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes.
That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were
just what Grandma said they were, Ridiculous!!! Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.
May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care...
And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!
-By LionJack (lionjack)
**************************************
This post reminds me of May Day Gifts given in my own youth & later, with my own children; The joy of making the paper cones & picking out the glorious spring flowers to fill them! The thrill of putting them on neighbors' doorknobs, knocking & running & hiding with anticipation @ making our neighbor feel feel happy. The giggles & goosebumps that happened when we saw the smiles, as that neighbor tried to ''catch us''!
Secret Santa/Secret MayDay Person, any day of the year! Does anyone else remember the song, ''Wendy''? ''Walking down the streets of the city, smiling @ everyone she sees''? It doesn't take money or a huge time involvement to make a difference. One random act of kindness can make a difference to one person, they then feel the need to pass that along, etc. Right?
The magic of Christmas can be evident in all of us year round.
I loved this post, LJ. My New Year's Resolution is going to be to try to live up to this post. I'll look the people I pass in the eye, smile & tell them to have a nice day. I'll listen with my heart when they share, I'll try to be patient when I don't want to. I'll fail, but I'll try! Any other neighbor on this site willing to make this a goal for 2008?
I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.
''Is this a Christmas present for someone?'' the lady behind the counter
asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.
''Yes, ma'am,'' I replied shyly. ''It's for Bobby.''
The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed
a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a
bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of
the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and
ribbons and wrote, ''To Bobby, From Santa Claus'' on it. Grandma said
that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.
Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk.
Then Grandma gave me a nudge. ''All right, Santa Claus,'' she whispered, ''get going.'' I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally, it did, and there stood Bobby.
Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering,
beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes.
That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were
just what Grandma said they were, Ridiculous!!! Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.
May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care...
And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!
-By LionJack (lionjack)
**************************************
This post reminds me of May Day Gifts given in my own youth & later, with my own children; The joy of making the paper cones & picking out the glorious spring flowers to fill them! The thrill of putting them on neighbors' doorknobs, knocking & running & hiding with anticipation @ making our neighbor feel feel happy. The giggles & goosebumps that happened when we saw the smiles, as that neighbor tried to ''catch us''!
Secret Santa/Secret MayDay Person, any day of the year! Does anyone else remember the song, ''Wendy''? ''Walking down the streets of the city, smiling @ everyone she sees''? It doesn't take money or a huge time involvement to make a difference. One random act of kindness can make a difference to one person, they then feel the need to pass that along, etc. Right?
The magic of Christmas can be evident in all of us year round.
I loved this post, LJ. My New Year's Resolution is going to be to try to live up to this post. I'll look the people I pass in the eye, smile & tell them to have a nice day. I'll listen with my heart when they share, I'll try to be patient when I don't want to. I'll fail, but I'll try! Any other neighbor on this site willing to make this a goal for 2008?
