Vox Hunt: 'Tis the Season
Show us something seasonal.
Nothing says Christmas like a child terrified of Santa Claus.
It's a custom we all remember, though barely. Being taken to see Santa just a wee bit before you actually processed your own readiness to meet the jolly chubby fellow. The man heralding the beard that looks like it holds the lives of lost children throughout the world. Missing people can be found in that sea of whiteness, you'll never make me believe otherwise.
My mother says I was three and had already expressed some reservations about this gentleman on this day in 19seventysomething. Nonetheless, hailing from a generation that never warned of big hairy strangers in red velvet, she plopped me on his lap. I tried my best to maintain a sense of decorum (ever the lady), while I shot her a displeased glance and a silent cry for rescue as I scooted away from him rather quickly. Not sure what it was that was my first sign to beware, the ill feeling in the pit of my stomach when meeting someone not on the level...or the smell of stale brandy.
I never offered a list of demands to the bearded faux Santa. I was terrified. I had never signed up for this absurd mission to begin with. Then, and now...there are some rituals and customs that remain a mystery to me.
Comments
As a child I totally believed in Santa, and I am a little sad to admit that I still kinda do. Even with such strong convictions about the reality of a fat dude who jumps down holes in masonry only to stick his hands deep into the stockings of sleeping children (whoa, beinging to see a lot of similarities between Santa and my Uncle) I never once thought any of the Jolly fat guys at the mall or anywhere else were the actual Santa. I convinced myself that they were basically "Santa's Helpers". Kinda like when you work at Wal Mart you get a blue smock, well when you work for Mr. Cringle you get a fat suit.
Ahh well, I still leave out Milk and Cookies, and every year I finish whatever Santa doesn't eat ;)
yanno, i think i only ever went to see Santa once as a child. but when i worked in the mall, my boss once got all four of us girls in the store to all go get our picture with santa one year though. he was... rather pleased to have four women basically sitting in his lap...
santa's a horny devil. ;~)
I found you through Deb, and just wanted to say hello. Won't you be my neighbor? I'd love to add you, if you don't mind!
Take care,
Christie