Random Christmas memories

"When did you stop believing in Santa?" Angel asked. We had watched "The Polar Express" last night (one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies); I had to think hard about when I stopped believing in Santa, and I think it was when I was five. It might have had something to do with Santa visiting our house on Christmas Eve; he came down the stairs and not the chimney for one thing. Another thing was that Santa was wearing my dad's red housecoat, and that he was wearing his glasses too. Anyhow Santa left his toys and went out the door (not the chimney) and after he left I ran outside to see if I could see him fly off into the starry night. I'm told that afterwards I was playing with my toys and then stopped for a moment. After a minute of silence I apparently said, "It was Dad! Dad was dressed like Santa!" I don't think I was disappointed though, as I recall getting the idea that Santa was just pretend. It got me thinking of other Christmas memories.

My childhood Christmas memories have much to do with the Danish community that my family was a part of. I remember the Sunday school Christmas parties in the basement of the church, where all the kids would get a bag of candy and a Mandarin orange. I never liked the orange though, which is funny because I love them now. I also remember these Christmas gathering at the Scandinavian Center in Edmonton, which had burned down many years ago and was never rebuilt. Each kid got a present from under the tree, and I remember one year getting a Nerf biplane which I really liked. And there was the Christmas Eve services held at the church, which were actually late in the afternoon so that everyone could have their Christmas dinner. To this day they still bring in a live tree, decorated with white lights which are lit while the rest of the church was dark. Afterwards it was off to my parent's place for a turkey dinner with almond rice pudding for dessert, followed by visiting, going for a walk, caroling, gift openings and a late night tea & coffee with all kinds of cookies, cake and other sweets.

I get teased about this Christmas memory, but I would have this recurring dream when I was a kid. In my dream I'm all alone in the house on Christmas Eve. It's a very bright and starry night, and the lights are off on the house except for the tree and some candles. But actually I'm not alone. Someone else is there, sharing Christmas with me. A very well known public figure to be exact; well, at least he was during the 70s and 80s. The man is none other than - wait for it - Pierre Elliot Trudeau, the then Prime Minister of Canada. Yup, me and Pierre were chill'n out on December 24th. We never said anything to each other; we just sat in the glow of the dim lights and looked at each other. To this day I'm still asked if I have that same dream at this time of year. I have to be honest here and say... No!