So it goes, I love to write about Christmas. I have no shame in my passion; it is me. There are others like me. Many are silent in their Christmas Dreams in February, but not the Old Man. I have always been this way…Santa Claus and reindeer. Waterford Santas that I collected for years. Laughing Santa is in my memory. Christmas is Hope to the Old Man and the promise of peace.

‘If it were Christmas all year, I would be happy,’ Chet said. ‘I remember getting a Daniel Boone Action Figure a few years ago,’ Chet laughed. ‘He was fashioned after the actor Fess Parker, and I was amazed at the likeness…I expected the little Daniel to begin speaking in Fess Parker’s voice,’ Chet laughed. ‘Dad had just died in the night, and I felt a bit lonely,’ Chet noted. ‘When I played with Daniel, I felt accepted and happy,’ Chet mused. ‘The Daniel Boone Action Figure brought the television show into my home, and the miracle of Christmas was felt by me,’ Chet whispered. ‘Daniel Boone was not Dad, but he was a comfort for a little boy,’ Chet said.

‘Laughing Santa is real,’ Billy B proclaimed. ‘His wide smile and infectious laugh are Christmas to me,’ Billy B continued. ‘Mom seems sad quite often, and Dad can get angry, but Laughing Santa does not change his happy demeanour nor moderate his cackle,’ Billy B noted. ‘We had our photo under the humongous Christmas Tree in Chicago with nothing but smiles on the faces of Dad and Mom and Laughing Santa,’ Billy B remembered.

‘Don’t come to visit from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day,’ Neva J said. ‘I need the time to plan the Christmas Dinner and to prepare for it,’ Neva J continued. ‘We will have Roast Beast and Christmas Coffee Cake, and there will be a Christmas Tree constructed from aluminum,’ Neva J discussed. ‘There may be a Big Swinger Polaroid Camera in your future, Billy B,’ Neva J said with a wink and a grin. ‘We will have to find the ashtray for Vema as she will smoke one cigarette after the other the entire time she is here for Christmas,’ Neva J said. ‘Rosie is coming, and Uncle Murph will be happy to get a dinner that is not a hamburger,’ Neva J mentioned. ‘Rosie has no family or friends, but us and she will be our special guest,’ Neva J said. ‘We will play Perry Como singng Chrismas Carols as well as Bing Crosby,’ Neva J laughed.

‘Grandma, where is your Christmas Tree?’ Aaron asked. ‘All I see is a little Aluminum Christmas Tree on top of your record player that is playing Nat King Cole Christmas Favourites,’ Aaron noted. ‘Our Christmas Tree is six feet tall and has a multitude of ornaments on it as well as a porcelain Nativity Scene under it,’ Aaron noted. ‘Are you going to put up a larger Christmas Tree?’ Aaron asked.

‘I am hoping for Nintendo Games to play on our Nintendo PlayStation that we just received from Santa,’ Jonathon said. ‘Mom and Dad played Bases Loaded all night,’ Jonathon noted with a wry smile. ‘The love Nintendo,’ Jonathon proclaimed! ‘I liked Nintendo and Teddy Ruxpin, who is a talking bear and whose mouth really moves as he speaks,’ Jonathon said with some pleasure. ‘Bruiser and Abigail seem to enjoy everything regarding Christmas and especially knocking the Christmas Ornaments off the Big Christmas Tree,’ Jonathon laughed.

So our high hopes and dreams are encased in our memories. We know there is a greater calling…a mission from God that we may be loseing the plot regarding. There is more…we feel it…We know it. Christmas is in our future because we need it…