Since I was the oldest child in the family, I didn't have a brother or sister to tell me that Santa was not a real person. Some kids at school hinted that our parents were really Santa but I ignored them because I didn't want to not believe in Santa. When I was barely 9 and in the 4th grade the year I found some Christmas presents in an old trunk in our home. Our house was very cold and I wanted a robe to wear over my pj's on cold mornings. I had that at the top of my list.
I was so excited one afternoon after school when we were playing hide-n-seek and I chose to climb inside the old trunk to hide. You can imagine my surprise when I opened the lid and saw things my mother had been sewing for our Christmas. Right there on top was a beautiful, pale blue chennille robe and I quickly closed the top of the trunk and my heart was beating so fast. There was the robe I wanted for Christmas! I told my best friend (who tried to tell me that there was no Santa) and she said, "Now you know the truth".
I was so excited one afternoon after school when we were playing hide-n-seek and I chose to climb inside the old trunk to hide. You can imagine my surprise when I opened the lid and saw things my mother had been sewing for our Christmas. Right there on top was a beautiful, pale blue chennille robe and I quickly closed the top of the trunk and my heart was beating so fast. There was the robe I wanted for Christmas! I told my best friend (who tried to tell me that there was no Santa) and she said, "Now you know the truth".
Well, Christmas morning finally came and I raced to the Christmas tree to see my beautiful blue robe. But it had my younger sister Christine's name on it. I thought there had to be a mistake until I saw her try it on and it was a perfect fit. I almost cried. And I had told my friend that I was getting that robe. My sadness was short-lived when I saw the doll I had wanted and some other things on my list. My mother took me aside and said she was going to make me a robe soon after Christmas, a pretty quilted one from an old one her sister had sent from Washington, DC. She said she couldn't make it without having me close by to try it on. It was so pretty and I still remember how it felt on cold mornings; so warm.
I had 2 younger sisters and a little brother who was 2. I didn't tell them that there was not a Santa because I felt so let down when I learned the truth. They had to learn from someone else.
I remember the excitement of seeing Santa riding in a Coca Cola delivery truck when I was young. He was beautiful! That has been my favorite Santa all these years and this year we have one that resembles this Santa, standing in our front yard with a spot light on him at night. It was painted by my neighbor and friend, Glenda Williams.
I remember the excitement of seeing Santa riding in a Coca Cola delivery truck when I was young. He was beautiful! That has been my favorite Santa all these years and this year we have one that resembles this Santa, standing in our front yard with a spot light on him at night. It was painted by my neighbor and friend, Glenda Williams.
Check out this website to read about how Coca Cola created the santa as we know him today.
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/heritage/cokelore_santa.html
