|
Dear Editor,
Its that time of the year again when it's up in the attic I go. Like a child waiting for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve with great anticipation, I frantically search for my Christmas display pieces with thousands of feet of lighting I use to decorate the outside of my home each year. As I fight with the cobwebs and the intense heat of the attic, my eyes fix upon my favorite mentor standing over in the corner, propped up by only a small red and white mailbox with the words “Santa's Mail.” As I draw nearer, I notice that the heat has been exceptionally hard on his painted surface. His face has more lines than the years before and his six-foot plywood body is starting to bend at the waist. His shoes are splitting and fading with age. As I gently move my good friend, I also notice the bags of mail addressed to Santa from the years past. As I view the bags of letters, a deep inner feeling overcomes me. I start to drift back to the years before when after playing Santa for the children I would bring Santa's mail into the house and place it on top of my antique desk. With quill pen and ink ready to go I would sit down long after the family retired for the night and begin to open each letter. With the first letter in hand the long night would begin, as i will not stop until each and every letter received has a response. It has been known to to into the wee hours of the morning, for not all letters are as simple as “Hey Santa, give me a car, boat, Game Boy and some other good stuff, and oh, ya, I love you.” |
Many children ask for things that are out my reach and force me to search deeps inside myself to find just the right words in response.
Like the letter I received from an 8-year old girl who wrote, “Dear Santa, I cry a lot, my baby brother died. I wish for you to give all my toys to him in heaven. Love...” On her letter she drew a Christmas tree with lights and a makeshift coffin with a cross on it. After many hours and many more tears, I wrote in response. “Even Santa Claus cries sometimes,” and “Yes, I will do my best to do what I can for you. Love, Santa” The following year this same young lady came up to me while I was again playing Santa and thanked me for giving her brother toys in heaven. I must ask myself, “Was I right or wrong?” In my heart I believe I was right to respond in the way I did. On the average, I receive up to a thousand-plus letters on December for Santa. There are so many such as this one, that force me to reach deep within myself. I often wonder if I have to reach deep within myself, how far must these young children reach within themselves to ask Santa for help, not for presents, but for understanding and love. I am very fortunate to be loved by so many, whether I am playing Santa or just walking down the street. Whenever I feel that I am getting too big for my britches, I take a trip to the attic where i keep those oh so special letters. So take some time out this year, spend some time with your children. It will be a gift more valuable than anything money can buy. Bruce McGuy San Jose |