When I was four Santa brought not only the presents but also
the tree. And then he stayed and
decorated it! When I came downstairs that
Christmas morning, the grown-ups waiting to watch my amazement and wonder at the
transformation of the living room included my parents, grandma and her cousin Jenny, and Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Bob. I
hope that my reactions met their expectations.
My only memory of the day is my mother saying, “Santa only does this
once for every child.”
By the following Christmas, the year I got my Annie Oakley
outfit and a Japanese doll sent by my brother who was stationed there, things had
changed. A kindergarten classmate had spent
her minute at Show & Tell really telling.
By the next year Grandma was gone, my brother was married and living in
DC, and I was old enough to begin to understand and look forward to some
traditions.
Four has got to be the perfect age for the magic of the
season. As an adult I can appreciate all
of the work that went into that one evening, as the family lovingly created a
corner of wonder for a child. I hope
there was laughter amid the stress of “more lights on top” or “too many red
ornaments together,” that music was playing, and that those elves retained fond
memories of that holiday night. 
My four-year-old self remembers one other thing about
Christmas that year. The
anticipation. There is no picture of me
sitting on Santa’s lap, but there is this, the picture of me that Christmas Eve,
innocence, ready for bed and looking forward to the surprises ahead. This season may we all find that piece of ourselves
that can relate to wonder. Whether for
you the surprise is the babe in the manger, the need is the promise of a fresh
start in a New Year, or you enjoy the camaraderie of peace on earth symbolized by
time with relatives rarely seen, I hope you are able to approach the end of
2013 with a childlike view in some parts of your life.
You may be amazed at what that child truly
finds.
Marilyn
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