Traditions.
We all have them.
Especially around this time of year.
In my family we have always written letters to Santa and my parents have kept them in an old tin can. Every year I love going back to the old can and reading all of my letters from childhood.
This year since I am now an old married lady, my mother thought I was responsible enough to have my tin can.
When I brought it home John and I decided to read through all of my old letters. We also came across some old Santa pictures.
Every Christmas I read the letters.
And every Christmas I can't believe the things I used to ask for.
John and I had so much fun reading through these. Of course he laughed at all of the silly things I asked for as a little girl.
Here is one of my first Santa letters. I didn't even know how to write so Daddy wrote it for me. Apparently I didn't know how to speak well either...
Then we got to a set where I asked for the same thing...
3 years in a row.
The board game Dream Phone.
Oh, how I remember it. I wanted that game so badly. How I longed to know who my secret crush was. I coveted that huge hot pink telephone with the voice on the other end whispering clues to me about my crush.
The first year I asked for it...it didn't come.
(Would you like a few translation tips for this letter? I believe "brieb" means barbie. Prisaess= princess...
dreme= dream.
Believe it or not I won 3rd place in my spelling bee in 3rd grade.)
The second year I asked for it...Santa let me down again. At least I learned how to spell dream. Also apparently I had a thing for ying-yangs that year.
The third year I asked for it...nothing, again. My little girl heart was broken. I gave up. I grew up. And soon the desire for a fake pink phone grew in to the desire for a real cell phone.
After John and I finished reading through the letters I placed my childhood desires carefully back in to that old tin can. I sealed up the can and rested it in my box of old Christmas things.
Two nights ago after I got off of work, I drove to my parents house to see the Christmas decorations my mother and sister put up while John and I were in Colorado. John decided to drive from work and meet me out there. We spent the evening catching up and meeting the new puppy that momma got.
When the night was drawing to a close John said, "Santa Claus came to visit my office today and he left something for you. He wants me to give it to you now"
I asked him if "Santa Claus" just wanted to wait to give me the gift on Christmas day.
He said, "No, Santa thinks you have waited long enough for this gift."
He went out to the car and brought back an embarrassingly large brown box. I had NO idea what it could possibly be. I am always amazed at John's ability to give the most perfect of presents. As I struggled with a butter knife to open this mystery gift my eyes caught a glimpse of the contents inside.
I was speechless.
Seriously, did I marry the most thoughtful person in the world? It was so heartfelt and I sincerely felt emotional about it. I couldn't believe that after years of longing for this silly game as a child, it finally was mine. It was almost as if a portion of my childhood came back to me. I felt giddy, happy, and nostalgic as I cradled this lovely gift in my arms.
So, now I am going to have all the fun that I can with this amazing game.
Dremes do come true.
By the way, the hot pink phone whispered to me, "John Murphy has a crush on you."
My goal in life is to never grow up but to have stellar wrinkles when I am an old woman. Let's be children for forever.
