December 6: Advent of Christmas Calendar: Santa

Today's Advent of Christmas Memories topic is Santa Claus, and the questions to answer are:

Did you ever send a letter to Santa? Did you ever visit Santa and “make a list?” Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

I honestly do not remember if I ever sent a letter to Santa. I am sure I did (heck, if I mailed a letter to Shaun Cassidy as a 14 year old, I'm sure I mailed a letter to Santa as a 4 year old!). Since I can't remember if I ever sent a letter to him, I certainly can't remember what might have been in the letter!

Now Visiting Santa is a different story. I remember being taken to see Santa at a department store in Niagara Falls. I remember my brothers going to see him. I remember being told by my mom that it was my turn. I remember taking a single step towards him, and I remember turning away and grabbing my mom's leg in tears. Yes, I was afraid of Santa Claus! Sad to say, it made no difference to me when Santa took off his hat, beard and glasses and my grandfather Joseph McHUGH was revealed. I still refused to go to him!

Do I still believe in Santa Claus? Well, let's put it this way. I work at a Children's Clinic, where kids with special health care needs, such as Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and Cardiac problems, receive care. Twice ... yes, twice ... in the past month I had the privilege of meeting babies whose doctors all said would never leave the hospital alive and would not survive even a weekend. These babies are still alive, and one is no longer identified as "terminal".

So yes, I do believe in Santa Claus.