A Simple Christmas Memory

Over the weekend, as I began preparing for the Me and Santa Sessions, I caught myself reflecting on my own childhood experiences with Santa Claus. I do not ever remember being afraid of Santa (my mom might tell different), just excited. As soon as Thanksgiving dinner was over my sister and I were ready to visit with Santa. 

Visits with Santa

Our mom and dad would take us to see him at all the different local malls in Birmingham...Eastwood Mall, Westwood Mall, 5-Points West Mall, and Brookwood Village. I am sure we saw Santa or his helper at each one (and told them all what we wished for)!All of these were great memories and we have all the 'Santa Photos' to prove it but I really can not recollect any of these visits in my mind. I just know I was there. But there was one visit inparticular that stands out in my mind. It occurred in the most obvious place but one in which I never thought I would meet Santa Claus....my house.

My Childhood Christmas Memories

Although I was little, 4 or 5 years old, and do not remember all the details, I do remember parts of it as if it was last night and  I was a child again in my mom and dads house.....it was evening, we were playing and all of a sudden we heard bells ringing and my dad asking 'did you hear that, I hear Santa Claus', and before we knew it, He was there, right before us! Santa! The real Santa was at our house, in our living room, sitting in our rocking chair in the corner! My sister and I had him all to our self! I do not remember what I asked Santa for but I am pretty sure I got it that year.

I also remember the snapshot my mother took of my little sister and I with Santa in our living room. Although it is in a box at her house somewhere, it is etched in my memory, I do not  need to see  it to remember the details of this special visit. I my mind I can see the photograph as clear as if I were holding it in front of me....I am 4 or 5 years old, long blond hair-pulled back in the front, white tee shirt, my sister is still crawling, wearing a blue and white sleeper, dad is in the background ( I think he had some good sideburns working for him-it was the late 70's), Santa is sitting in the rocking chair, I am on his knee, my sister is crawling in the floor at his feet.

My Grown Up Christmas Memories

Christmas and seeing Santa Claus was always a magical time for me as a child and it still is today. Now days seeing Santa is different for me, it is still magical but I look forward to seeing Santa through my girls eyes. Seeing the excitement on their faces warms my heart, makes me happy, and at that moment all of the problems of the world no longer exist....the simple magic of Christmas.

It really is not the gift we get but the memories we make that lasts a lifetime.  I can not remember what I got that Christmas thirty-something years ago but I do remember that special visit my parents created for me and my sister and hold it near and dear to my heart.

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Susan Watts Photography will be holding Me and Santa Sessions on December 1. This will be a special time for children to spend one-on-one time with Santa Claus and create a memory that last forever.