Santa DOES Exist

Every Christmas my parents went out of their way to make it special, my father played Santa for alot of the charity organizations in N.Z. where I grew up so I would get a letter in the mail selecting me as 'Santas special helper' with this fairy costume as told when Santa would pick me up. Of course this was all very exciting, Mum would help me get ready and Santa would arrive in an old vintage car (my 'uncle' collects them) handing out lollies to all the children in the neighbourhood then pick me up and take me to he different functions to help him hand out presents. To top this off my mother worked for a large department called Farmers which ran the yearly santa parade. So I also rode with Santa in this - he always looked a little different in these parades...
My belief and love of Santa was immense. On 1 Christmas eve when I had trouble sleeping my Dad took out his Santa suit from his hiding place and put it on when he put the presents under the tree, so I got a sneak peak of Santa and him eating his cake and drinking his whiskey.

My father always told me that Santa would get sick of all the milk and cookies and that he thought he would prefer some whiskey instead. Of course the raindeer loved chocolate.

It broke my heart when I found the santa suit and santas walking stick with the bells in my parents closet. Of course that could off been the end of the belief, but my Dad didn't want to let go I think. Therefore he decided that if I didn't believe in Santa I wouldn't get any presents.

For this you had to know my Father. If I didn't play. He would have followed through on this threat. When we moved over to Australia and my parents broke up, it changed Christmas.

The morning with Dad, the evening with Mum. It was a financial struggle at this time, and Christmas was pretty well just another day. It is amazing how hard to can be to have to let go of something so wonderful so suddenly. Let go of the magic.

Christmas has been getting better again in the few years. My partners family celebrates in the traditional European style on Christmas Eve, with a banquet meal and family close family get together. Then presents after dinner and dancing around the Christmas tree. Then on the 25th we can relax, see my family for the day. It worked out well. 2 Christmas'.

It will be wonderful when we eventually have children. No family fighting about where we are going to go this year?

I haven't been close enough to see my family ofcourse. Just celebrated with his.