It is the time of the year when we often reflect on memories from past Christmas seasons. These reflections can be both positive and of course negative. What I have found over the years is that some of those memories that once brought tears to my eyes, can now bring smiles. I hope that by sharing a few of my Christmas memories, you too, will remember some of those times and events from past Christmas seasons. I can’t guarantee that some of the memories won’t be sad, but I can guarantee that there will be just as many happy memories as sad, because when you combine kids, presents and family there is no choice but to remember those special moments in a positive way.
I can start my Christmas memory list with a story about my Dad, and his quick wit. I had wanted a new bike for Christmas, but something told me that if Santa were to deliver a new bike to every kid in the world that wanted one, he would have a pretty full sleigh. But my determination to have the shiny new bike, or one that was just like it, from the hardware store window in Maddock, was pretty focused. I would ask my Dad almost daily if he thought that I was being good enough to get a new bike from Santa. Of course, he would play the trump card pointing out that washing dishes, hauling out the garbage and keeping my room clean would go a long way towards guaranteeing that Santa would at least consider my request. “BUT??? You know that not fighting your brother and sister is pretty important, too”
I had resigned myself to the fact that if there was one thing that would jeopardize my new bike it would be the fight I could not walk away from with my siblings. “But can’t Santa see that I am trying hard not to fight with my sister?” I asked my Dad. He would smile and say “remember, Santa sees everything”. Yep, the bike was in jeopardy.
As it got closer to Christmas my resolve seemed to increase. The garbage was out the door without a second reminder. I lined up and took my turn wiping the dishes. And yes, I even was nicer, albeit not completely nice, to my siblings. I even remember bargaining with Santa. We’ll finish the Santa story in a minute after we share what happened to my wish for a new bike.
The hardware store was on my way home from school and I would walk by the window just to remember exactly how that bike looked, down to the last bolt. It was a couple of days before Christmas, and I could sense something was different. From a distance it appeared that someone had moved the bike out of the window. Getting closer I could see that there was now a small tricycle in the window, not a bike. Was it inside the store? The answer from the clerk was “no Rod. Someone came and bought the bike.” No problem I said to myself. Santa knows what bike I want. Some other lucky kid will have a bike just like mine.
Fast forward a couple of days to Christmas. In my opinion I had done what it took to get a new bike. I had a “it’s gotta be now or never Santa” attitude. And then I started to think about not getting a new bike, you know, prepare yourself for the worst so it doesn’t surprise you. It got dark, and Mom sent us upstairs to watch for Santa. Downstairs there was a Ho Ho Ho (kind of sounded a lot like my Dad) and down the stairs we all bolted. There it was, the Christmas presents of all Christmas presents. A new bike. The same exact bike as the one in the window at the hardware store. I could hardly wait to ride it, but I would have to.
The story does not quite end there. Because of my excitement to try to ride the bike, it was a short night. I was up the next morning to make sure that it wasn’t a dream. The bike was still there. Right in front of the tree where I left it. As the sun came up and when it got to be light outside I noticed that there was a set of bike tire tracks from the front door of our house around the corner and directly across the front yard to our detached garage. I had noticed the tires on the new bike were snowy when I found it in front of the tree on Christmas Eve.
There just were too many things to think about. The bike disappearing from the hardware store, the tire tracks to the garage, Santa sounding a lot like Dad. I had heard rumors but refused to believe that every present did not come from the North Pole. I had to ask. Dad why was my new bike in the garage. Didn’t Santa bring it? Well Rod, Santa had so many bikes I gave him permission to store it in the garage for a while, until he had room in the sleigh. Made perfect sense to me. Why wouldn’t we help Santa? But Dad, I noticed, because I knew every part of that bike, that there was a little scratch in the fender of the bike at the hardware store, and it’s the exact spot where my new bike has a scratch. Without hesitation my Dad explained that Santa knew he had a bike like I wanted in Maddock already. So, he just used that bike. And…Dad…is that why I saw the bike in the back of your work truck one afternoon at the back of the hardware store? The answer? Rodney, you ask too many questions. I could tell from his look, that the conversation was over.
Lying in bed that night I reconstructed the events over and over. My older brother finally rolled over (we shared a room) and explained. “Little brother, if you quit believing in Santa Claus, where will the presents at Christmas come from?” Good point, I thought, I ask too many questions.
In Maddock there was only one special “Santa Claus day”. It was the day that Santa showed up in Maddock at the grocery store and we would sit on his lap and in a minute or so attempt to convince him that we were, and were going to be, good little boys and girls. One Santa Claus day I noticed that Santa kept looking at his watch. I am thinking “Santa has all the time in the world”. It got to be 3 PM, and with a final Ho Ho Ho, Santa waived good-bye. As fate would have it, I had to use the restroom. It was locked. I knocked really hard only to hear a “out in a minute”. Sure enough, an older gentlemen came out of the bathroom, and I saw Mr. Johnson hand him a check and say, “thanks for coming over.” I bolted into the bathroom and slammed the door. The light was off and so I turned it on. There at my feet was a Santa Claus suit that had fallen off the hanger on the back of the door. Could it be? My Dad’s explanation? “Santa hires helpers because he just can’t be everywhere at once…and by the way…you ask too many questions.
Best Kept Secrets
If you haven’t been able to catch the new electronic Christmas Tree in downtown Minot, it’s worth a few minutes to watch the show. And then, check out the fountain on Main Street and 1st Avenue. One of the downtown elves has decorated it for the season. And finally, take an evening stroll or drive through downtown Minot. Some of the store windows are spectacular. Thanks, Downtown Minot! You make the season special.
Today’s Chuckle
(From a lady at the mall who shared it with us when we were ringing bells for the Salvation Army)
How much did Santa pay to park his sleigh? Nothing, it was on the house!
