Monday, November 19, 2007

Fun Monday - Santa and Me


If you have been busy today stopping by the various Fun Monday stops, you already realize that the wonderful and kind Karisma is today's hostess. And, you are aware of this week's assignment, which is "I want you to take a trip down memory lane, and keep right on going, right back to your childhood. And I want to hear "THAT STORY". You remember the one? Yes, you do! The one your parents, siblings, extended family or friends, would never let you forget, live down or get over!"It could have been funny, embarrassing, shocking, delightful, naughty, mischievous, or just so darned cute that everyone felt the need to remind you of it, and keep reminding you of it, all your life."




I am not sure that this story is cute, shocking, delightful, naughty or even shocking. In fact, you might find this story disillusioning or just plain weird. When I was very young...maybe three, my mother took me to see Santa Claus. I am not sure of traditions elsewhere on our globe, but here in the United States, parents bundle their children up for an annual visit to see Santa. Usually Santa is stationed at the local mall. When I was young, Santa sat in a throne at the nicest department store in town, Wolf & Dessaur. I think that the plan for this traditional visit is twofold. The store wants to sell pictures of America's little darlings sitting on Santa's lap and what parent can resist. Second, the child tells Santa what he or she wants for Christmas. Then, the parents can spend some hard-earned cash to buy the bicycle, the i-Pod, the video game, or some other much-desired toy.


I remember that first visit to Santa. I was a timid child and was frightened by the Jolly Old Elf. I remember being to told to tell Santa what I wanted for Christmas. Maybe I am or was socially challenged, but I do not remember my visit to Santa as joy-filled. Within a few years, my older neighborhood friends decided to share with me about the mythology of the Santa gift-giving. Yes folks, I do mean my little friends enlightened me that "there is no such thing as Santa Claus" and that "our parents put the gifts under the tree." Since I was not especially fond of Santa, this news did not especially disappoint me. On the other hand, my parents seemed to enjoy this holiday play-acting so I did not mention my new-found knowledge. Years later, I did tell my parents that I knew that Santa did not bring gifts. Moreover, I revealed that I knew that they were the benefactors of the lovely presents and that I had known this for years. When my mother asked, why I did not let them know about my disbelief. I repsonded that, "I did not want to disappoint them." My parents always thought took this revelation to mean that I thought that they believed in Santa. However, they seemed to enjoy sharing this Santa Claus tradition with their youngest daughter so I let them think that I believed in the generosity of Old Saint Nick. My parents did like to repeat this story, but they never really had it quite right.

This a picture of the non-believer and Santa Claus in the early 1950's.

26 comments:

Pamela said...

I missed out on the Santa's lap thing. I don't know why my mom never let me sit there. I think she was overly cautious about perverts.

You sure were cute. Santa is wearing weird glasses. ha ha ha

Anonymous said...

You look just a tad like Natalie Wood in Miracle on 34th Street! I prolonged the Santa thing with my folks for awhile, too. It made them happy and I was the beneficiary - so no foul there!

daddy d said...

What a fine little girl! She should get lots of presents.

Anonymous said...

I must have missed your name on the list. Some of those colors were impossible to see!

Anyhoo, loved your tale. I'll be writing about the great non-believer in a while, probably save it for Dec.

I loved your story and that your parents thought you thought they believed in S.C. No wonder, I'm confused just typing that. *giggle*

Happy Thanksgiving (a little early)!

laurie said...

you were adorable. and smart. and very considerate of your parents!

willowtree said...

Store Santas always freaked me out (same thing with clowns, I hate 'em!), I was glad when I realised it was my parents leaving the presents.

willowtree said...

PS. You do look like Natalie Wood in that picture. So the score now is Jane Withers 1, Natalie Wood 1.

karisma said...

I remember lining up for Santa too for hours, the problem was, I was very shy and ended up changing my mind once we actually made our turn. Mum forced me to sit on his lap and I cried. I never wanted to go back again. Needless to say my kids have only had the odd Santa picture taken and that was when they asked for it, not because I wanted it.

I nearly posted that picture for fun monday but my little face looked too sad.

debi said...

When I was about 8 my friends big sister tried to tell me some crap about there being no Santa. I never believed her, not then and not now.

alisonwonderland said...

fabulous story! and what a great photo! happy monday!

Anonymous said...

I'm going to whole heartedly disagree with your notion that Santa doesn't bring gifts. He hasn't missed a year at my house in 33 years. I love Santa.

=)

Anonymous said...

Your picture with him is very cute!

Beckie said...

That is a great picture. My parents were always too cheap to buy the photo!

-Ann said...

Great picture. I like that you didn't want to disappoint your parents.

captain corky said...

"there is no such thing as Santa Claus" and that "

Lies!!! There is too.

Nessa said...

la, la, la, la - finger sin ears "There is too a Santa Claus."

Very cute story. My daughter hated going to see Santa, too.

Anonymous said...

Love that photo. Beautiful!

My son, who's 8, I know has major doubts while my daughter, 7, still believes but is asking questions. Many many times I've been tempted to just tell them so that we can all get on with life!

Sauntering Soul said...

Cute picture!

I can't remember how old I was when I was informed there was no Santa, but I had to keep my mouth shut until my little brother knew. Then we kept it quiet from my parents for a couple of more years.

Alta said...

Adorable picture. We went to the mall one year to Christmas shop and my mom and dad said there's Santa. I saw him and started running away from him and screaming. LOL

molly said...

It just proves you were a very considerate child. It's funny how they misunderstood the reason you didn't let on you knew "the awful truth!"

Michael Colvin said...

Ha! A great story and a cute picture!

Nancy said...

I loved when my kids got excited over Santa. Now at 19 and 22, I tell them, I am not giving up my fun as a parent ... so, they know they must believe to receive. They play along =)

Tiggerlane said...

My grandmother, being spiteful to my parents, broke the news when I was WAY too young. I had difficulty trusting them about anything after that.

You are beautiful in that photo!

Lynne said...

Oh, MJD, I have a similar photo of myself with Santa and plan on using it closer to Christmas on my blog. You little non-believer you! I believed in Santa with my whole childish heart until my older sister spilled the beans. I still have not quite forgiven her for that loss of innocence.

Love the pic! Do kids today have such a nice photo made with Santa?

Jo Beaufoix said...

I love this. My little brother was always scared of Santa and we had to promise he wouldn't come into his room.
Santa is such a weird concept in a way. You were very wise to fathom things out so young, and it's lovely you kept quiet so as not to take away the fun of pretending from your mum and dad.

Cazzie!!! said...

I loved reading this story, it brings back many good memories for me as a child too. Love the image there :)