Santa Wept (A rant of hope)

Tomorrow my daughter (in 1st grade) will be singing with the other kids at a school holiday function. She was selected to be Rudolph - we guess mainly because she is the only red head they got - That and the fact that other kids have picked on her about her race and hair (she is one of the white kids in a mostly Latino school). We found out about the teasing and told her teacher, who spent a part of the day teaching the kids about acceptance. And rudolph is a perfect fit I suppose.

But I digress.

I see my little girl watch her Christmas shows, all the ones I grew up with and more. I see the joy in her eyes and remember dreaming my little dreams when I was a young boy about santa, elves, reindeer, and seeing Christmas saved and the good guys win.

I see it in the other shows she watches as well, barbie saving day, etc. And I again remember the joyous dreams of childhood.

She does not watch the news. Couldn't give a hoot about politics, and thinks bush is something poison berries grow on and dogs pee on.

I have a hard time watching those shows now. They remind me of a time mom was still alive, and the joy she gave us kids. It reminds me of not seeing or hearing from my 3 little boys for 8 years, and then hearing from them when their mom (my X) died. My youngest blamed me for it all, then settled down. I still have not seen him. My middle son, still does not wish to speak with me. My oldest though, came through finally and even lived with me for a spell, and just sent me pictures of his daughter (and the new one born Dec 8th). With no internet and being 2200 miles away he hand wrote me (though on rare occasions he gets to email from a friend's house). My wife having Parkinson's.

I guess after years of bad things, and 8 funerals in 3 years, losing my job, etc I lost the ability to see the joy in those shows. My wife has always told me I was miserable around the holidays. She was right.

And yes, I know I have a new joy with my daughter - and that is a great blessing. But my mind cannot erase what it has seen - and the news and politics just makes it worse.

But a ray of hope can bounce off the dark walls of my mind and light it up like a Christmas tree.

Tonight I watched Santa Claus is coming to town with her. Came outside when she went to bed, and this Santa cried.

Santa can save the day again. Maybe not with reindeer and elves, but with people like you all here and others who don't give up.

He can make the world a better place for her when she has to grow up and faces things as I have had to.

Santa can give her health care, education, freedom to marry whom she wishes, a good economy with a lot of jobs, a better world and a better climate.

The elves are busy working for you my little girl, and we work all year round to do the right thing.

Your biggest Christmas is yet to come, but rest assured - Santa is on his way.

I lost hope. I lost joy. And then I found it, in the tears of my dreams.

And the next time I watch Rudolph on TV, I will think of my own little Rudolph and the dreams I can give to her.

Just tell her a guy with a white beard who lives up north sent it.

I didn't think much about my car killing the planet, or all those lights sucking down energy, or how terrible x/y/z was.

One house has a live santa in front with a huge spotlight - the guy collects money every year in front of his house - to help feed the homeless here. He decorates to the hilt, and lives in a wealthy area. He started decorating for the main reason of getting people to come by and see it and do something to help others. And it has worked for many years.

The lights bring joy to many a folk, and that in and of itself is important.

And yet, sadly, some will find reason to hate it... :)

Nothing But a Child running through my head. Haven't listened to that song for years, but it came through in high fidelity. Light, hope, children, peace: that's what Christmas should signify.

for a lovely and important seasonal read.
:kick:

... whadda ya think of that?

:rofl:

Thanks Nance, coming from you that means a lot.

:hug:

Hekate

First there is a Santa Claus.
Then there is no Santa Claus.
Then there is.

We all have to keep going for Rudolf and all the kids.

sharing this, SS! Give your little sweetie a :hug: from me please!

Hope to get a video of it online for my dad back east this weekend and might share some clips of it online...it's what us dad's do :)

I love kid's school Christmas plays/concerts/shows, and would even if I didn't know a single kid there! Our hopes for the future perform on those stages.

Pretty scary when you catch the kid transfixed with picking and eating snot, eww!:rofl:

From everything I've read SS, you are a damn fine dad. I'm pleased to know there really are dads like you out there. Ones that care how they affect their children, so many haven't a clue. It gives me hope for the future. :hug:

The circle of life...how it continues on and on and on...

Merry Christmas Straight Story...your words have unleashed the flood gates!! Peace!

:hug: