Two Chicago Tribune editors, Denise Joyce and Nancy Watkins have written the book Scared of Santa – Scenes of Terror in Toyland. This book stemmed from the Chicago Tribune request for readers to send in their best photo’s of scared tots meeting Santa and were featured in the “Q” section during 2003 and 2006. Needless to say it was a very popular feature.
This year’s online Chicago Triibune reader’s can browse both the 2007 gallery and upload pictures to the current photo gallery – Scared of Santa. I uploaded a picture of my daughter Senja earlier last week. I believe she is featured somewhere in the pictures uploaded on December 16th.
I for one- am not scared of Santa nor have I ever been. I am eagerly awaiting a visit from him later this week. I hope he brings me a little something- something… Interestingly enough I never met Santa when I was a child- nor did I ever receive a gift from him under my tree. My parents were extreme hippies and my Dad had a philosophy that
a) they would be my friends and not my parents and
b) that they would never lie to me.
Accordingly Santa and the Easter bunny were off limits in my house. Fortunately the Easter Bunny and Santa made stops at an Aunt’s house for me. This Aunt happened to be my Father’s older sister and he was not going to oppose her. Unfortunately we moved from Chicago where she lived when I was 4 and the visits from Santa Claus ended abruptly.
I am not saying I am scarred for life but my Dad was a doofus wrong about Santa… Santa and the Easter Bunny are what make being a child magical. As far as never lying to me, that went out the roof when he became heavily into drugs. If you are going to lie about something to your child at least make it harmless like Santa.
As for me- I met Santa when I was 21 and took my oldest son to meet him. Not only did I meet him- he told me my Dad was full of crap and that if I believed as an adult he would make up for my lost childhood.
So I’ll close with this…
Santa-
I believe in you… please bring me lots and lots of vintage goodies.
I have been really really good all year long except for that incident in July.
Love
Michelle
PS Here’s a picture of my Dad with you- he really did believe in you once too.
I was terrified of Santa! I bit him when I was two! And I hate to say it but the Santa in that picture with your dad has an awfully suspicious mustache. But for YOUR sake, I do hope he believes in YOU and that you get all your vintage wishes.
Of course Santa believes in me- it’s Dan he doesn’t like.
Santa does not like Dan??? Golly! …. maybe it’s the Meez thing.
I wonder what happened in July? – that was my bad month as well. Hope you get a LOTTSAH vintage gifts.
Happy holidays Michelle
Fortunately I was never scared of Santa and neither was my son.
I need to know “The Incident in JULY” details!!
PS: I hope you get everything on your list!
Merry Christmas,, Happy Holidays and “All That Jazz” to you and your family!!!
Hey Eric- I think Meezs are pre elves or something… the meezs probably put Dan on the naughty list. Merry Christmas to you too!
Meleah- One should only have to embarrass themselves once and then let an incident become the past…. Some things are best buried in the past.
I did get everything on my list – all my kids are happy and healthy and at home. This is the best time of my life.
You are a sweet person to go around wishing everyone a Merry Christmas- I hope you had a great day with your son.
I know what you did last summer! It was choking me and then buying that Pinky and the Brain fabric! Shame! Shame, I say! Shame!
I admit choking your little gangly scrawy armed avatar was not my finest moment….
However the Pinky and the Brain fat quarter sold on eBay and brought joy to someone!
You better watch out – it’s high school wrestling season and this wrestling Mom is geeked out on coffee and sparring with her sons. I might have to slap an illegal full nelson on you!!! You better watch your back.
There should be a blog meme called “I Know What You DID last Summer.”
My drunk grandfather tried to pass himself off as Santa, much like Billy Bob Thornton’s “Bad Santa” with whiskey breath. I was too smart and pulled his beard off demanding to see the real Santa. I must send him my new address, he skipped me this year
Hi Bobby- I love drunks my Dad was the best DRUNK EVER!!!
I hope you got every thing you wished for this year. My Christmas was incredible and so blessed.
The real Santa has your address and I am sure he didn’t forget you! When we are adults I think the presents are more of an intangible and more precious quality like the love of family or even good blogging friends like you.
I saw a poor little kid crying in the mall the other week. He was sitting on Santa’s lap and his parents had the embarrassed please hurry up and snap the photo look on there face.
Deborah- sometimes I think Santa is just for grown ups- kids really don’t give a darn about the guy he’s just the vehicle for the gifts that they have been coveting all year long.