Dear Santa

Dear Santa:

For Christmas this year, I have a lot of things on my list.  You don't have to bring me everything.   But most particularly I'd like to have Zach home for Christmas.  After that I'd sure like to have a Pearly White Cadillac CTS, but I'd settle for a Mercedes convertible (anything but red), but if you like I can use one of each...one for each foot.  I'm very fond of roses.  Diamonds would really turn me on, but they are a waste of money because I rarely wear jewelry.   A house at the lake is on my list as well. 

Back to reality.  Perfume and flowers are great presents, but they always go away after awhile.  But I have vases from flowers I received many years ago, and they still bring fond memories, even though I tried to reject the one bunch of Christmas flowers.

My favorite Christmas presents:

When I was 10 months old I received my Anne doll.  I still have her, and a table and chairs set.  I had them for many years. 

When I was about 10 or 11 I received a mint green and lavendar Schwinn bicycle.  It was a very special wish come true as well.

My very favorite Christmas present is to be with family and share good times.  Some families talk of the "holiday fights".  Our family holidays have always been special occasions when we can all get together and hug everyone and make and share special memories for the future.  As I write this I can remember special holidays spent with my grandparents years ago, and then most recently with my extended family.  

Here's a special story that I wrote, based upon a true happening when I was about five years old.

Merry Christmas

and

Happy New Year

JINGLE, JINGLE

(or Diary of a Five-Year Old)

The doors had never, ever been closed before. I didn't even know they were there.

Grandmother, said, "Bill. It's time."

Grandad stood up from the table and went and pulled the doors right out of the wall. The light from the big front window in the parlor disappeared.

The doors had never, ever been closed before! I didn't even know they were there!

Closing the doors meant we couldn't look out the big front window to see the porch.

"Can I go swing on the swing?"

"No. It's too cold. You stay in the house."

I was sent to the sewing room to sit in the rocker. I couldn't even see the doorsanymore.

Why do I have to sit in this rocker?

This is some Christmas.

I wish I had my Anne Doll. She had to go to the hospital.

I didn't even know she was sick. Those doors had never, ever been closed before!

I didn't even know they were there!

here goes that sound again, the doors I didn't know were there have been opened again, and here I am in the sewing room. I can't even see them doors from here.

"I'm tired of playing in here. Can I come out and play in the parlor now?"

"No. You have to be a very good girl and stay where you are or Santa won’t come." I could hear the doors slide shut again. The doors had never, ever been closed before! I didn't even know they were there!

"You can come out now."

The doors were still closed. The adults stood around in a circle, in front of the doors that had never been closed before. They were all smiling foolishly.

Suddenly, from the other side of the doors, I heard a sound I'd never heard before.

"Jingle, Jingle."

"Ho, Ho, Ho!"

I looked suspiciously at the adults whose smiles were so foolish.

Suddenly, I felt a draft come under the doors that had never been closed before, and I heard the parlor door that lead to the front porch open and close. Nobody ever used that door!

Grandmother smiled and nodded at Grandad, and he pulled the doors open.

There in the parlor was a raggedy little ole Christmas tree. And next to the tree was the dollhouse I thought Santa would not bring becauseI was not good.

And on the other side of the tree was my Anne Doll. She didn't look sick to me. She looked married. She was wearing a bride's dress of satin and pearls, with a long white veil.

Santa stole my doll and then gave it back to me dressed up like the Bride Doll I wanted! What a crock!

Is there really a Santa? I don't know. I wasn't good and I got the doll house anyhow. It's a mystery to me.

How's come nobody ever told me those doors were there?

(This is a story I wrote. It’s a true story, embellished a bit. Not sure I was such a smart aleck kid back then.)

Love, Jana