Peace on Earth
It is nearly 1am on the morning of Christmas Eve. Everything I needed to do, has been done. Steve will be getting up for work in a few hours, but once he gets home this evening, he’ll be off for a week.
I had to pick up a few things at the commissary today (or should I say yesterday), and thought for sure it would be crowded. Thankfully, I was wrong. The bagger who loaded my groceries into the car, told me that the early part of the week was much more hectic. I was in and out of the store in less than an hour.
On the way home (about 1pm), I enjoyed the orange glow of the sky as the sun hugged the horizon on its way down. I stopped at the golf course on post and took these photos of the afternoon sky:
It looks like we’re not going to drive around town looking at Christmas lights, until after dinner on Christmas Day. Steve doesn’t want to go out again tomorrow night, after a long day at work - which is understandable. As long as we do our ’sightseeing’ before this weekend! The weather service is calling for bone-chilling cold to settle over us by Sunday. When I see HIGHS of -30F, I’m not about to leave my warm cocoon of a house.
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Today, I spent some time reminiscing about Christmas past. A friend of mine had blogged that her son was questioning whether or not Santa Claus was real. He’s 8. It made me think about my childhood, and Christmas Eve when I did believe in Santa Claus. I have three younger brothers. The four of us were born within 5 years, so we’re very close in age.
On Christmas Eve, we used to push the two twin beds together in the boys room and make one huge bed. All four of us would sleep together in anticipation of Christmas morning and finding presents under the tree.
Of course, when there are four kids in one bed, there is going to be a lot of chatter and laughter. I can’t tell you how many times my dad would come in and tell us to quiet down or Santa wasn’t coming. We really did try to fall asleep, but we couldn’t. Sometimes it felt like hours before we drifted off.
One year, we heard sleigh bells ringing! We just knew it had to be Santa’s sleigh. Mom came into the bedroom to check on us and we told her we heard bells. She told us that Santa had flown over, but knew were still awake, so he went to other kids’ houses who were asleep. I think we all squeezed our eyes tight, trying to fake sleep. But there’s no pulling the wool over Santa’s eyes! *grin* I later realized the sleigh bells were actually the bells that we had hanging on our front door. My parents almost always had a Christmas Eve gathering and the bells would ring everytime some arrived.
I don’t think I stopped believing in Santa until I was about 10. But even though I was enlightened as to his existence, I kept the spirit of Santa alive for my brothers - especially my brother Marc (the baby). Unfortunately, once my brother Mike found out that Mom and Dad played a big part in what showed up under the tree, he couldn’t wait to share his knowledge with the others.
I don’t remember when my kids stopped believing in Santa Claus. They were probably younger than I was. It didn’t matter if they believed or not; there were always packages under the tree “from Santa”. And Santa continued to leave them packages until they grew up and left home. He’ll always live in our memories.
If you’ve got little ones at home, you can track Santa with them via the Norad site. There’s a kid’s countdown on the site, as well as other updates as to the progress being made in preparation for the big trip around the world. Check it out HERE.
Until next time…
It does feel good to remember when we believed in Santa Claus, doesn’t it? It’s also wonderful that we are able to relive that in our children and grandchildren. I am so glad you are feeling better. Many blessings to you and your family this Christmas season Susan!
And a Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Lea Ann
[Reply]
Comment by Lea Ann — December 24, 2008 @ 4:41 am
MERRY CHRISTMAS SUSAN! Sending many wishes for a wonderful holiday to you and Steve.
[Reply]
Comment by LynnMN — December 24, 2008 @ 9:25 am
Hi Susan When you were talki8ng about many Christmas past When you and your brothers would share the same room at Christmas Eve It sure sound like my 2 sisters and myself when we must of been pretty young Me 7 and my sisters were 5 and 2 Our Aunt would come over to make sure we were all in bed and asleep So when you were writing about your experiences on Christmas Eve It brought back a lot memories
Thank you for this Journal
Again Susan and Steve Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year Love you both John and Shirley
[Reply]
Comment by John & Shirley Strauser — December 24, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
Yes there is a Santa. I saw him the other day at the mall. HOHOHO
MERRY CHRISTMAS
[Reply]
Comment by Gip — December 25, 2008 @ 4:52 pm
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Steve!
I’m so glad you are feeling better.
Today I gave one of your calendars to a cousin who visited Alaska a year and a half ago with 16 Boy Scouts and 8 Leaders. Most boys had never been out of the State of Maine. They had hiked and camped in Denali for a week before moving on to salmon fishing and the coastal areas. He was so happy to see your beautiful photos and I gave him your website and also told him about the visiting moose on the deck.
Thanks you for allowing us to visit Alaska through you eyes and camera lens.
Gail in Albion Maine
[Reply]
Comment by Gail Drake — December 25, 2008 @ 7:59 pm
Susan this is for Gail I am with you all the way when
you said in your comment Susan With out your eyes and camera lens We that will not be able to get to Alaska would never get to see the Beauty of Alaska In the few years that I have viewed the pictures I still love them all Of course you do know which ones is my favorite The Northern Lights of Course
Take care Our Love John and Shirley
[Reply]
Comment by John & Shirley Strauser — December 26, 2008 @ 5:05 pm