My Santa Collection

Yep, way back in 1981, this tiny pewter Santa thimble started it all.

Kathleen and Art came over to bring Momma some Christmas gifts and cheer, and Kathleen handed me a tiny gift. It was this Santa. It has survived many Christmases, because let's face it, we can lose the dog or our minds, so how I never lost this is beyond me. It survived the move from the old house to the new one too, when we were paring down to essentials.

It started a long love affair with a fat little man who stays on the down and low most of the time, then grows out his whiskers and tries to hookwink kids into believing his "gifts for every good little boy and girl all over the world, down the chimney, leave me cookies, and I'll see ya next year" story. He's well traveled, a snappy dresser and likes to sit you on his knee. What's not to like? Wow.

But when I started talking about it, people started bringing me thimbles; because I was a seamstress I guess they thought it sounded like a good idea. While I don't display my collection anymore, I have thimbles made out of every medium you can name, in all shapes and sizes. My friend June collected spoons for many years, and I remember a certain Marion who made and collected dolls. While I haven't gone too far from my nest, my thimbles are from all over the world.

But I digress. It started off innocently enough with a small Santa ornament here, a stuffed Santa there. A Santa plate, a Santa mug. A set of nesting Santas, a New York taxi Santa. All kinds until now, it has become one of my favorite parts of the season, to unpack and display my collection. They have overflowed to other rooms and I use the practical ones all I can. Every one brings a memory.

One of the grandkids made this many years ago, and I keep him out all year round in my office.

This is our "Kids Tree" and every single ornament is a Santa collected and given over the years. Many are home made.

I caught this guy winking at me.

My newest Santa, a gift from Jaime Lee on her recent visit to Quebec City.

Can't beat one of Virginia's kitchen towels!

A treat plate made by Tissa Deveau, many years ago.

Another beautiful Santa from a former employee, Glenda MacDonald. My cookie jar, which I try to keep cookies in, but I live with a little man with a big sweet tooth........

But Christmas certainly isn't about Santa. Is it. Or is it? He certainly embodies good times and cheer. But for some families there will be little of that.

The illness in our community! Every house seems to have someone who's sick. Or a loved one who is too ill to be looked after at home, and now they've been placed. The dinner table with one less plate. Or the dinner tables with less on the plates. Playing the up-down game with IRAC........do we fill the oil tank this week or wait and see if the price goes down. Two and a half years of Covid, a hurricane, inflation of every description, except our incomes. There are people out there, homeless. The flu is raging. People are tired. And yet, it's Christmas again.

We don't have time to worry about global warning, something that seems destined for the future, it's here now.

We don't have the energy to pander to every TV commercial or Radio ad appeal.

We don't have the extra $$$ that it takes to spread around perhaps, to folks in need. We rely on the Lions Club or the Red Cross to look after that.

Where are we supposed to find good cheer for ourselves and our families? It can cause a certain guiltiness. (Is that even a word?)

Perhaps we are just too hard on ourselves. I don't think others can make us happy. I think happiness comes from inside. From being okay with being okay. With making a plan and sticking to it. I think you'll find that if you are the first person in your circle to say, I don't think we'll be partaking this year, every other person will say, whew, I'm okay with that. Then there's less stress for everyone.

Church? Well, historically that's where a lot of Christmas spirit lives, of course. There is an empowering feeling that simple reflection provides to some people.

For me, when I need to think something through, or I need to appeal to a higher power, I slap on the sneakers and walk for an hour or more. I talk to my father and to my beloved Bea. One who knew me well, and the other who hardly knew me at all. Bea only had to look me in the face and say, "Out with it." I still miss her so much.

How about supporting one of our local sports teams as they fundraise in various ways. I've bought tickets, wreaths, boxes of meat, supplies of local cheese and honey, tubs of frozen cookie dough. Each purchase not a big deal, but it's all useful to me and helps someone out.

Sending Christmas cards every year is one of my favorite things. It gives me a chance to think about that person, and imagine their pleasure on the other end. I won't be giving that up for a while!! For some of my family, it's the only connection we may have each year. And in truth, I probably get more out of it than the recipient does.

And as Jann Arden says, stop counting calories, for god's sakes. Christmas only comes once a year, and I don't intend to eat until I can't waddle anymore. But I will eat comfortably, partake of one or two sweets, and since I don't drink anyway, I will enjoy my meals even more. I walk a lot and am quite active for an old senior citizen, so I will just do a little more. Being able to do these things or do a short work out is not a punishment, it's a privilege.

Leave a little something for your mailman/gal. Your oilman. Your hairdresser/barber. Your Guardian delivery person.

These people work hard for our convenience, once a year a card and a box of cookies or whatever goes a long way to making someone's day. And maybe yours too.

No, before you start thinking it, I'm not rolling in wealth. As my wise friend Maureen once said, "I'm not mean, but I'm frugal. I have four children to rear." And I agree, mean and frugal are not the same.

If you can sing, do so!!

If you are famous for your biscuits, well that and a jar of your homemade jam makes an awesome gift!!

You're a knitter? Well you know what to do!

Go to a School concert, it's hard to come out without a smile on your face!

Call a grand parent or a long distance friend. Basically free.

But priceless.

You can do it. And remember..........Santa's watching.