mtaggartI remember so clearly the fun and anticipation of Christmas morning. I laid awake for what seemed like most of the night, waiting for my parents to come and tell us that Santa had come. Although we almost always got up between 5 and 6 a.m. (yes, you read that right), it never came soon enough for me. I can remember getting up and flushing the toilet more than a few times, just in case my parents were sleeping too deeply to remember to get up.
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| Me (left) and my neighbor, Robin Bean,visiting Santa Claus Bakersfield, California |
I don’t remember ever feeling afraid of Santa. I just remember being excited to see him in parades, the department stores and at parties.
I do remember being startled one evening when we heard a knock on our living room window while my family was watching TV together. We lived way out in the country and didn’t have neighbors, so we seldom had anyone knock on our door, much less on our window. I remember someone cautiously pulling back the curtains and seeing SANTA standing right there just outside our big living room window!
Through the window Santa reminded us to be good and promised to bring us toys on Christmas morning if we were, then he waved and was gone. After that, I found myself listening for him all of the time. Santa actually visited us that way 2 or 3 times during my childhood. Years later as adults, as my brothers and I were talking, we realized that, sadly, my dad had somehow managed to miss every one of Santa’s surprise visits!
Talk about having a good incentive to behave! We knew for a fact then that Santa had been to our house and we never knew after that when he might be listening or what he might see. The simple fact that he had actually showed up at our house just underscored the words of the song:
“He knows when you are sleeping.He knows when you’re awakeHe knows if you’ve been bad or goodSo be good for goodness sake!”
I would like to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and I hope that as we celebrate this Christmas season, we will remember that the Savior, Jesus Christ is the gift and the real reason we celebrate Christmas.
Copyright © Michelle G. Taggart 2014, All rights reserved
How fun that Santa actually came to your home, Michelle. Knowing that Santa really saw everything she was doing would give her more incentive to behave well. You and your friend look very sweet.
What fun memories Michelle! Having Santa visit your house must have been so exciting for you and your brothers.
I'd like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!!
It was a lot of fun! Merry Christmas to you too Jana!
It really did "scare me straight" in a way. I worried a lot that he might be watching, whether he knocked on the window or not. Thank you!
I KNEW we were sisters in a previous life. I would wake up all night long. At 5:00 I couldn't be contained any longer. My pokey-slow parents took forever to get up, get coffee, and get ready for all the fun. No wonder we were all dragging by 3:00 in the afternoon.
That's so sweet that your dad played Santa.
Merry Christmas!!
Michelle,
I want to let you know that your blog post is listed in today's Fab Finds post at http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2014/12/follow-friday-fab-finds-for-december-19.html
Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you so much Jana!
Oh that's too funny—and yes, I am pretty sure we were sisters and keep expecting to find our southern connection one of these days! Keep digging!