Yes, Virginia! There is a Santa Claus

The years: my early childhood

Place: My Grandmother's house

Santa Claus would come in person to bring a gift for each of the children and to visit with us for a few moments. Then off he would be supposedly to the next house. This Santa Claus was not a holly, jolly Santa. In fact, he was downright SCARY. He had a worn out red suit with a rubber mask for a face. So the anticipation for Santa to come to Pa and Ma's house was on several different levels.

Fast forward to about 1982, when I had my first child. I wanted to start a Santa Claus tradition with Greg and Justin. So I made a Santa suit and purchased a beard. We asked Marlon that first year to come to the house to bring presents and for pictures. This tradition has been going on for 27 years now. We have never missed a year with a holly jolly Santa. Some years have been more memorable that others.

Don Webb Taylor played Santa about 20 years. Our children grew up, but they still wanted Santa to come visit. Then Don Webb passed away. At Christmas they new Santa had died, and we had this discussion that Santa might not make it. However, we asked Randy Miller, one of Greg's best friends, to do the honors. The surprise on these college-aged kids face was priceless when they realized who it was.

There was another year that really sticks out. This time the joke was on me. Santa had come and gone for the night. Then he came back. He walked in the house with a tiny black puppy. Everyone is standing in a circle wondering who the dog is for. It was mine. Everyone knew but me!

The memories and stories could go on with Santa through the years. Many pictures have been made with Santa. So if any one every doubts, there IS a Santa Claus in our family. We will be awaiting with much anticipation the arrival of that special man again this year.

Family, feel free to add comments about some of your memories of our Santa Claus through the years.