Friday, December 4, 2020

A Santa Story by Richelle E. Goodrich

I could feel excitement radiating from every person in the auditorium. Holiday carols featuring jingly bells and brash horns boomed from surrounding speakers. Glitter-heavy, paper snowflakes twirled overhead, dangling from silver string. There were lots of kids. Dozens. Most of them my age, some younger, not many older. An entire line of us were eagerly waiting, smiles pinned on our faces. Why would we not smile when Santa Claus—plump, jolly, fluffily bearded, and in the flesh—sat on his golden throne at the front of the line?

The fat man in red was surrounded by skinny, happy elves dressed in festive attire. None of the elves were as dwarfed as I had imagined they would be, but that meant nothing. Short or tall, they were plainly Santa’s elves. I could tell by how they beamed pure joy while handing out candy canes to mesmerized kids seated on Santa’s lap. I could hardly wait for my turn to tell the big guy how well-behaved I had been this year and how desperately I hoped for a brand new, cobalt-blue, silver-striped, Razor SX500 McGrath Rocket Electric Motorcross dirt bike for Christmas… with matching-blue full-face helmet of course.

I’d been waiting in line for a full thirty minutes, watching elves twirl candy-canes around their fingers, when a larger kid at the front of the line climbed up a set of wide, wooden steps to meet Santa. It was hard not to stare at the kid because he looked like an actual son of St. Nick. They were both big guys, both dressed in Christmas-red pantsuits with black belts and gold buckles. I suppose what happened next should have been anticipated, but it actually surprised us all.

It’s not like I never imagined doing the same thing, but a nagging inner voice always warned me that no-way-in-the-north-pole could I expect a gift from Santa Claus if I ever succumbed to the temptation of tugging on his snow-white beard. Such an act of disrespect seemed a naughty-list offense for sure. That said, it genuinely stunned me (and everyone else in the room) when the big kid seated on Santa’s lap had the nerve to do just that! It was no gentle tug either. He yanked so hard that the pillowy beard ripped clean off the old man’s face! A collective gasp echoed within the vaulted ceiling like a sound of rushing water, and we all stood there frozen…stunned…staring at a most unexpected sight.

Green.

That was the color of the exposed facial hair. It was short, scruffy, and green. I had never seen a green beard before. Well, except once on an animated character from a show that rhymed a tale about some dastardly creature who hated Christmas so much he tried to steal it from an entire township of Whovillers.

The big kid who was holding an apparently fake, white beard quickly tore off Santa’s velvety hat as well, revealing a matt of hair as green in color as the man's real beard. A few girls screamed at seeing it.

I pointed an accusatory finger at the charlatan. “He’s not Santa!” I hollered. “He’s the Grinch!

The little girls who had screamed a note of shock were joined by others who screeched much louder and much longer, supporting my hasty deduction.

Now, I’m not sure if things that happen as a result of what you say are rightly your fault, for I had no intention of setting into motion what transpired next; nonetheless, my announcement caused a bit of alarm. The Grinch—that Christmas-hating monster—had already heard and memorized the gift-wishes of numerous children. He knew what kind of presents would be under their trees on the eve of December twenty-fourth. Aghast at this thought, we understood that the greatest enemy of Christmas had tricked us in the same way he had tricked unsuspecting Whovillers! Christmas was in jeopardy, and unless something was done to prevent it, the holiday would be spoiled for everyone!

The bold kid who had unmasked the pretender was first to assail the Grinch, grabbing him by his green whiskers while accusing him in a loud voice of abducting the real Santa Claus.

“Where is he?” the boy demanded. “What have you done with Santa?”

The Grinch growled a sound of pain and attempted to pry the boy’s hands from his face, but the kid held on tight, demanding the release of old St. Nick. Many other children chimed in, voicing their concerns about the welfare and whereabouts of poor Santa Claus too until all at once we witnessed an unthinkable betrayal by none other than the candy-cane-toting elves! Three of them laid hands on the big kid and yanked him off the Grinch’s lap; however, the green-haired villain was pulled along because no one thought to remove the chubby fingers clamped to his beard.

A child in line shouted out the obvious. “Traitors! You’re not elves!”

I had suspected as much earlier, having naïvely forgiven their uncharacteristic tallness in light of a convincing merry performance. They had fooled us and nearly gotten away with it!

The nonelves ganged up on the big kid and worked together to pry him off their bossthe nasty Mr. Grinch. Just then, a lanky, blonde-haired boy in Harry Potter glasses cupped his hands on either side of his mouth and sounded a deafening war cry. It was instantly heeded by good little children desperate to protect their spot on Santa’s nice list. We rose up like an army, prepared to defend the old man who would have been dizzily proud of us had he witnessed our united act of loyalty.

Children stormed the stage—despite parental attempts at interference—and tackled the Grinch, taking down his pointy-eared cronies as well. The villains tried to resist but were outnumbered by angry boys and girls who hugged tight to limbs, tugging at hair and clothing. It was enough to force them to the ground where they were stripped of their candy-canes and festive hats. Soon enough, a chant began that quickly rose in volume.

“Bring back Santa! Bring back Santa! Bring back Santa!”

“Okay, okay!” the Grinch surrendered, shaking two toddlers off his arms in order to sit up. “I’ll go get Santa.”

“We want the real Santa Claus,” growled the big, bold kid. He eyed the Grinch distrustfully.

“Yeah, yeah… the real St. Nick.” But no sooner had the name been voiced when a hearty “Ho, ho, ho!” carried across the room. It was a strong voice. It was confident. And it was jolly.

The nonelves were allowed to sit up as all eyes darted about, looking for the man in red. He appeared from behind a tall, decorated Christmas tree, his tubby tummy shaking with every “Ho, ho, ho.” No one moved. No one blinked or breathed or uttered a word. We simply watched the fat man in his plush, red suit; black, shiny boots; full, blushing cheeks and snow-white beard make his way to the stage before climbing up to take a seat on the golden throne.

“Well, now,” he said to the big kid who still looked the spitting image of St. Nick. “You mind letting my elves have their hats back?”

“Those are really your elves?” the kid asked. He looked skeptical. I was skeptical too.

“Yes, son, they are some of my best elves.”

The big kid scrunched his eyes wondering. There was only one way to tell if this jolly old man was telling the truth. Without missing a beat, the boy’s fingers clamped onto a fistful of beard and tugged. A collective gasp echoed once again but was quickly drowned out by cheers of joy.

The beard was real! The old man truly was Santa Claus in the flesh!

He belted a good, hearty laugh and accepted warm hugs from relieved young persons who then lined up to have a turn on the real Santa’s lap.

Thank goodness Christmas had been saved—due to the combined efforts of good, brave, observant boys and girls. We were heroes! At least I think we were. Our parents seemed less than pleased. And apparently no one noticed when the Grinch slyly slithered away. 

Copyright 2019 Richelle E. Goodrich, Being Bold

Monday, November 30, 2020

Being Grateful - Nov 30th

 


This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 30th:

This past month I have made daily posts about things for which I am thankful, particularly blessings I seldom contemplate. This self-appointed assignment to document my gratitude has been a positive experience. That’s the thing about gratitude, it has great natural benefits.

Gratitude actually improves psychological and physical health. Not all that surprising if you think about it. Feeling thankful is a happy emotion that in turn reduces toxic emotions such as envy, regret, and disappointment. This healthier mental well-being has a positive effect on the body’s physical well-being since happy people are more likely to exercise, treat themselves well, and get medical check-ups. 

Studies have shown that gratitude reduces social comparisons, resulting in improved self-esteem. Counting your blessings before bedtime has been shown to improve the quality and length of sleep. According to some university studies, people who regularly show appreciation are also more likely to be kind and empathetic towards others. Being thankful and appreciative reduces the desire for retaliation, even when the hurt is significant.

There are additional benefits to being a person who is grateful in all things—improved quality in romantic relationships, added friendships, stronger family relationships, reduction in suicidal thoughts, greater satisfaction with life, increased optimism, more generous nature, improved patience, better decision-making, and more! So, this final day of November, I am truly thankful for the rich, abundant benefits of being thankful.


 

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Being Grateful - Nov 29th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 29th:

I am thankful for simple, thoughtful acts of kindness. Small gestures that make a huge difference to the recipient. Hugs and kisses. Friendly letters. Thank-you cards. Smiles. Empathy. Mercy. A helping hand. Wise advice. Genuine compliments. Words of encouragement. 

There are so many things a person can do to extend kindness to others. Acts of recognition, acts of gratitude, acts of love, acts of support—all can be communicated through small and uncomplicated means. I love that this is true. It honestly takes very little to make someone feel appreciated.

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Being Grateful - Nov 28th

 


This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 28th:

I like titles and designations such as teacher, healer, mother, daughter, sister, philosopher, author, poet, manager, companion, wife… the list goes on. 

Some titles we earn. Others we are given. Either way, they play an important part in defining who we are, both to ourselves and to other people. They contribute to our developing self-image. A title outlines a role; it suggests what we do and what we know. 

It is a strange thing how a simple title or designation modifies the way we see ourselves. As we grow, our titles change and often multiply. With these changes in title come changes in our self-perception. I appreciate that they reflect our evolving maturity and progression over time.

Friday, November 27, 2020

Being Grateful - Nov 27th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 27th:

I have a voice. With my throat and mouth, I can form audible sounds—words, laughter, melodies, and other noises. I can speak to an audience, argue with a colleague, giggle with my girlfriends, sing in a choir, yodel, whistle, cheer, and roar. It is wonderful to have a voice. 

I love using my voice to talk over the phone. My closest friend lives many miles from my house, so we spend many hours on the phone, often reading books to each other. My friend is talented at character voices, both male and female, which makes the stories come to life. It is incredible how a single voice can be altered to create such a wide range of sounds! 

I am grateful to have a voice with which to communicate and entertain, and I am grateful to hear so many wonderful voices chatting, singing, and laughing all around me.

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Being Grateful - Nov 26th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 26th:

My family just celebrated Thanksgiving, and my oh my did I use my hands a lot! I chopped a lot of vegetables, stirred thickened sauces, sliced a whole turkey, whisked and spooned and peeled and buttered and scrubbed... oh yes, my hands were very busy! 

Now that Thanksgiving is over, my kids are spending time together playing card games (busy with their hands) and I am writing this blog about how grateful I am for the hands I take for granted. I write, I draw, I paint, I play piano (a little) I cook, I clean, I type (for hours at work.) It is amazing how useful and used my hands are, yet I seldom stop to appreciate the miracle they are. I am very grateful to have two, healthy, able hands.

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Being Grateful - Nov 25th

 


This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 25th:

I was blessed to grow up in the same house, in the same city, same schools, with the same friends for most of my childhood life. I had parents who established healthy routines and habits that lasted throughout those years. The stability I experienced as a result was comforting. It gave me an anchor I often needed when other areas of life gave way to every shift in the wind, as the world is prone to do. Even at a young age, I recognized and appreciated the security that existed in a stable home. It was a sure thing on which I could rely.

When I grew to be a parent, stability for my own children became a priority. I wanted to raise my kids in one house, a place they could call home no matter how drastically things changed outside. I was granted that blessing, and my kids grew up in the same house, the same city, same schools, having many of the same friends for most of their childhood. 

Even if they don’t realize it, that constant in their lives created stability, which has real benefits. Some of them include better health, a reduction in stress, deeper friendships, better habits, feelings of control, feelings of security, and less uncertainty about life. I am grateful my kids grew up with roots in a house and a hometown. I am grateful for the stability I too experienced growing up.

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Being Grateful - Nov 24th

 


This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 24th:



I own a complete set of Star Trek porcelain figures that fit together like a puzzle. The set consists of eight members of the Next Generation’s bridge crew that form a nice display of the main bridge when arranged in the right order. Unfortunately, my son accidentally bumped the display one evening, and two of the figurines hit the floor and broke apart. Not a happy moment. 

Yesterday, I spent an hour carefully lining up each busted piece and gluing them back together with superglue. To my delight, the glue held strong! The repairs look as good as new. 

It was a relief to have something strong and sticky enough to repair my  treasured collectibles. I am thankful for adhesives like superglue, wood glue, gorilla glue, glue sticks and the like. They make repairs, crafts, scrapbooking, woodworking, packaging, and even some healthcare possible.

Monday, November 23, 2020

Being Grateful - Nov 23rd

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 23rd:

Black licorice is such a unique flavor, is it not? As is Peppermint. Cinnamon. Salmon. Lemon. Anchovy. Chocolate. Butterscotch. Garlic. Jalapeno. Maple. Banana. The list goes on. 

A plentiful assortment of flavors can be found in this world, which makes for enjoyable dining experiences. From sweet to savory to sour, there is enough of a range in flavors to please every taste bud on the tongue. Isn’t it wonderful? 

Flavor is probably the most enticing reason we love to eat. When a dish tastes bland, a typical reaction is to reach for salt and pepper or for butter and honey or for mixed herbs—something to add desired flavor. It makes eating pleasurable. (Sometimes too pleasurable… curse you chocolate!) 

It would be terribly disheartening to find that my taste buds no longer worked properly. My desire to eat would decline, that is certain. So today, I am grateful for flavors and for my ability to enjoy them. Even black licorice. Yum!

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Being Grateful - Nov 22nd

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 22nd:

I scarcely think about it until I am faced with a situation where I have little to none, but I am thankful for the fact that most circumstances in life allow for several options. It is something often taken for granted—the fact that options usually exist. 

When ordering lunch, picking out school courses, selecting a grocery store, choosing a haircut, deciding on an outfit, even electing new government officials, there are options. Imagine a life without them. One meal. One schedule. One store. One look. One uniform. One leader. It would be frustrating! 

So, when you are faced with many options, smile and be grateful. To have more than one is a blessing often ignored.

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Being Grateful - Nov 21st

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 21st:


I am thankful for socks. Thin socks. Thick socks. Furry socks. Cute socks. Ugly socks. Long, medium, and short socks. They are all magnificent! 

I love the feel of socks on my feet. They keep my toes warm, especially on chilly winter nights. They absorb perspiration while protecting my feet from abrasive shoes. They act as a layer between the soles of my feet and things like thorns, tiny rocks, and bits of broken glass that sometimes end up on the floor. 

Interesting fact: socks were first invented in the 8th century when they were fashioned from matted animal hair. 
I bet they were oh so soft! 

We are lucky today to have countless kinds of socks available to us. I admittedly own way more than I need! Nonetheless, it is gratifying to slip on a pair of fuzzy socks at the end of the day and prop up my feet on the coffee table. Ah, comfy socks, you make me happy.

Friday, November 20, 2020

Being Grateful - Nov 20th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 20th:

There are certain types of people in this world who show exceptional skill at perceiving the feelings and thoughts of others. They are keenly aware of those around them, and sense emotions even when the emotions are intentionally hidden or suppressed. These individuals we call empaths.

Empaths are sensitive people who share in the pain and happiness of others without needing to live through the same experiences. They joy vicariously. They suffer vicariously. They often identify and understand your feelings before you do. An empath will ask if something is wrong, perceiving even a slight deviation in mood, often recognizing there is a problem before anyone else is aware of it. 

The wonderful thing about empaths is they compassionately discern feelings. They are sensitive, and they genuinely  care. It is a rare treat to befriend an empath. In a world that seems teeming with apathy, detachment, and spite, I am grateful for the empathetic individuals who continue to offer understanding, patience, and mercy. Thank you with all my heart, my empathetic friends.

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Being Grateful - Nov 19th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 19th:


Today I am thankful for floss. Now, that might seem like an odd thing to say, but believe me, there is genuine gratitude to be felt at finding a roll of minty floss when food is wedged between your teeth.

 I don’t recall it being a problem when I was young, but as an older adult I have found that food gets caught in my teeth a lot—way too often—and it is aggravating! My poor tongue nearly goes numb struggling to loosen trapped food... largely without success. Neither a toothpick nor a fingernail work well enough. It drives me mad the more I try! Ugh! 

I admit it; I have resorted to using thread, yarn, ribbon, hair (my own), paper, the end of a straw, and even the tip of a sewing needle when no floss was available. Nothing has proven as effective as actual dental floss. Those thin, waxy, minty strings are useful, satisfying, lifesaving, and in my opinion hugely-underappreciated. And yes, I am very thankful for floss.