Santa Joy

Months ago I planned out my December calendar to help keep me busy and distracted from waiting for the college decision letters. I purposely planned to give three parties in an eight day period just because when I am giving a party I can hardly think about anything else. “Do I have enough ice?” over takes any more important thoughts like, “when will Carter have time to write more college applications if she doesn’t get in?”
All that planning to keep me busy was for naught — in a good way. But then again, I am superstitious enough that if I did not plan things to keep me occupied the news would have been bad. I know it doesn’t make any sense.
Today was my first unscheduled day where I was not cooking for other people and I did not have any big commitments. So I did what most regular people do and went shopping. I try and get most of my Christmas purchasing done well before December, but it never fails that I have forgotten some people or I have come up with a new and brilliant gift idea that I must research.
The mall and the stores were not too crazy since school is still in session and I went in the middle of the work day. The last minute, “I’ll take any ‘ole thing” shoppers have not felt the pressure and gone out so on the whole it was a civilized day to get things done. I can’t say where I went or what I got because receivers of some of my gifts might be reading. I will say that I was very happy with what I found.
The best part about the day is that since I was alone I got to stop and watch the little children visit with Santa. This made my day. The pure joy and happiness on the faces of the true believers gave me hope. The Santa was a really good one and the children gave him high fives as they got close enough to touch him. He spent a long time looking them in the eye and talking to them before they had their picture taken together. The other parents with small children waiting in line did not seem to mind enduring long visits because they knew their small ones would probably have the same positive experience.
Tomorrow the wrapping marathon begins and that is where I actually figure out that I have over bought for one family member and under bought for another, which will precipitate more shopping and more wrapping. Hopefully next year I will be better and get everything done in October, but then I would miss getting to share in the Santa Joy.