Do You Hear What I Hear?

It was Christmas eve, 1940, when I was 6 years old. We lived with my grandparents - my mother and daddy, and sisters Christine(4) and Susan (2). It was a cold, rainy night. Mother had slipped on ice on the steps on the back porch a couple of weeks earlier and sprained her ankle. She went to the Dr. and he wrapped her ankle but for some reason, she didn't have crutches to use. I remember she used a straight back chair to rest the injured ankle by kneeling her leg on the seat of the chair, and pushing it along and walking with her left leg.


She made her way to the fireplace in the room where we were all gathered by the big, roaring fire, and we were talking about Santa Claus and wondering what we were going to get for Christmas. We didn't make long lists on the computer, along with photos, etc. of what we wanted for Christmas. In fact, I don't remember making a list at all. I guess I thought Santa would know what I wanted. We didn't have TV to tell us what we wanted, or the newspaper ads to see all the toys that are available.


All we had to do was "believe" and Santa would come and leave us some toys, along with candy and fruit. Once we even spotted Santa riding down the road in the Coca Cola truck, and he waved to us. I don't recall ever visiting Santa in a store and telling him what I wanted.


That particular Christmas was special. It's a memory I have kept all my life. My Aunt was visiting us that night, along with her little son, Tom. Daddy told us to listen, that he heard someone on the roof. We were worried that there was a fire in the fireplace but daddy told us not to worry; that Santa could come in doors and windows if there was a fire. Then we heard someone on the porch. I think probably the wind was blowing the porch swing against the posts and the chains were making a noise. But we all thought it was Santa coming and we were very quiet so he wouldn't know we were still up. We sat still for what seemed like a long time, and then my aunt came into the room and said she also heard a noise and went into the "front room" and Santa had already come and there were presents under the tree. Mother and daddy led us to the Christmas tree and indeed, there were unwrapped presents with our names on them. I remember getting a doll whose eyes would open and close. We were allowed to take one toy to bed with us. I remember taking my doll to bed with me and my heart was pounding at the thought of Santa coming early and we didn't have to wait until Christmas morning to see what he brought.


Looking back, I guess this was a good idea, and probably my parents were hoping we wouldn't get up so early the next morning. Our only heat was the fireplace and we stayed in bed until the fire was warming the room where we always gathered (which was my grandparents bedroom).


On Christmas Day, daddy took us outside to look for the raindeer footprints but we didn't find any. And I guess we didn't think about that anymore. After all, Santa did come, and we got some presents. I think my daddy loved Christmas as much as the kids. He could hardly wait for us to see our gifts. One Christmas he spent long hours repairing a firetruck pedal car for our little brother. He painted the car, replaced broken parts, etc and had it ready by Christmas. I was 10 years old when he was 2. I didn't know my daddy was working on the firetruck and until I saw them putting it in Mama Wilson's closet on Christmas eve. I was very confused on Christmas Day when they said to my brother, "Look what Santa brought you!" This was the first time that I even questioned if there was a Santa. Mother read me the editorial in the newspaper, "Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus". I can remember thinking that if I stopped believing in Santa, I wouldn't get any gifts. So I pretended to believe there was a Santa for a few more years. I didn't want my little sisters to find out there was not a real Santa.

Christmas was so much simpler back then. Jim and I have been trying to decide what to get our 5 granddaughters (ages 13-23) for Christmas and asked for a list. Their lists were very confusing. Many of the items were electronic and completely foreign to us, i.e. wii games, play station 3 games, ipod touch, etc. There was only one sensible item on the list: our granddaughter who is a sophomore at Clemson University and living in an apartment asked for some shelves to put over the toilet for storage. She inherited her "neatness" and organizational skills from her grandpa - not me!! And I can't believe I paid over $50 for a pair of jeans that were faded, torn places on the front and legs, and even allowed the 13 year old to wear them to a school party, before wrapping them up to put under the tree. I thought "why not" when she asked if she could wear them. I bought them for her when we were visiting them in SC at Thanksgiving, so she could try them on. 



When it was time to make my list this year, I couldn't think of a thing I wanted. Most of all I want good health and to spend Christmas with family.


Pictured here is our little friend Isabella is giving Santa her list at the Children's Party at church.


Want to know what I think Christmas is about, besides the birth of Jesus? I think it is "Loving, Caring, and Sharing".