HOLIDAY SPIRIT
HOLIDAYS 2022
There really is
a Santa Claus
I first encountered Santa Claus when my mother took me to a large department store called Shillito’s in
downtown Cincinnati.
I had lived in an orphanage prior to reuniting with my mother. I remembered nothing about Santa
Claus or Christmas during those years, as children who lived there rarely got gifts unless they were donated.
I was so nervous, sitting upon the lap of a stranger who was dressed in a bright red suit, who began to ask
me questions pertaining to my greatest desires for Christmas. I had never experienced anything like this. I
remember my hand immediately touched Santa’s beard, as I was quite inquisitive about why this guy had
such a long, white beard. It was all new for me.
My hand was immediately drawn to his beard. The next thing I knew it got tangled up in his white,
straggly facial hair and I could not get it free. I was devastated. After seeking help from a local beautician
to cut my hand free, his beard seemed fine and I was reassured all was going to be OK. Nevertheless
I was convinced I had ruined any chances of getting the gifts I had asked for on Christmas.
I went home feeling like I was not a good boy, frustrated and anxious. Days passed
and Christmas morning finally arrived. To my surprise, when I rushed to look under
the tree, with expectations that I would not find anything, my mother pointed to a
brand new flannel shirt and a yellow car that had my name on it. It was from
Santa Claus, she told me.
I smiled with a huge sigh of relief and since that morning, nearly 70 years ago,
I have been a firm believer that Santa Claus really does exist.
22: SPACE COAST LIVING | SPACECOASTLIVING.COM
Willard Davis
/SPACECOASTLIVING.COM