Memories. 

I grew up with my dad, step-mom, and two brothers. My Mom lived very close as did my Gramma Millie - she was the most wonderful person I’ve ever known. Every Christmas Eve when I was a little girl, my dad would take me -just me- to my gramma’s for a party. I’d get dressed up and I felt special being at a grown-up party. Moreover, I would see my Mom and Dad in the same house. It was the only time of year I remember being with both of them at the same time. My dad and I would go home only to wake up the next morning to gifts and goodies littering the living room. Santa had been there but this wasn’t the best part of the day. My mom and gramma were always welcome to visit my house on Christmas day to open gifts and spend time together. Them being there would make my day. 

Magic.

When I was 6 I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis and spent the better part of a year in a NYC hospital ICU hooked up to a ventilator, feeding tube, and I.V’s. I was terribly sick and often children in beds next to me would never go home. Once I was home, life for me wasn’t like all the other kids. I couldn’t go out and play and run around. I didn’t go to school regularly. Every birthday candle and Christmas letter was a wish that I would get better and jump rope and play eraser tag again. I believed in the Magic of Santa; if he could go around the globe stopping at every home surely he could do this. I continued getting better each year and now I’m a mom and I’ve been able to see the magic and excitement in my two boys’ eyes. Eli is 15 now and still loves to watch Christmas movies with me. He would watch ‘Rudolph’,  ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’, or ‘The Year Without a Santa Claus’ on repeat all year long. It didn’t matter if it was 101 degrees outside, Heat Miser would bellow his song from my living room. Sawyer - who is now 12 - is the best elf finder in our home. Every morning he makes it his mission to find our Elf on the Shelf, Jingles. He doesn’t do so well finding the Christmas pickle though. That title is still held by Eli. On Christmas morning the boys will rush into the living room full of hope and wonder - and their eyes just glimmer. 

Goodness.

This is the most important reason I love Christmas. People all seem to be a bit kinder. Santa is selfless - pure good - and I see that selflessness in so many during this time of year. We’ve all had a few bad years and many have suffered terrible loss of family, jobs, homes and friends but there are those to pick us back up - the one’s who do it selflessly without asking for a paycheck to do good. They are the “Christmas” I’m talking about. I wish it could be Christmas everyday. I want to see the good in people. Why can’t we all be like Santa - just a little? 

As newsman Francis Pharcellus Church told Virginia “He (Santa) exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.” 

Santa, he does exist in each one of us. So believe in the good, be kind and you’ll find Santa.