Day 846 Sentimental

 I'm starting to realize how much I've slacked off for the past few years with my holiday decorating, as I unpack box after box of treasures that haven't made it out for years! Sure, I've brought out the minimal, ornaments and a few festive boughs and baubles but the majority of my decorations haven't made their way out, until this year. I have been searching for my favorite Santa and wasn't sure where on earth he could be, afraid he was missing.  I didn't find him last year, or the year before and was beginning to think he was lost to me forever. Well, wouldn't you know, as I dug into the depths of my holiday boxes, tucked way in the back was a box where I had carefully wrapped Santa in tissue and put him safely inside a box so he wouldn't get broken. My poor Santa was in the back of that cupboard, inside that box for far too long. Out of all my Christmas decorations, my Santa is my favorite. He has been brought out each year from my childhood on, lighting the way and bringing holiday cheer. He's a vintage 1940's Santa so must have been bringing cheer to someone before me. I'll have to ask my mom where on earth she ever found him but I'm so glad he's stayed with me all these years. I'm not sure my kids remember him with such fondness, somehow they didn't inherit my sentimental genes. I often wonder if us older folks are more sentimental because we had so much less, making the few special items carry a bigger impact? Candy in the house when my mom hosted Bridge Club, a box of chocolates on Valentines day, a white chocolate bunny at Easter, Ice Cream cones with my dad after a long day on his sailboat and when this Santa came out I knew Christmas was close. I realize that if anything were to happen to me, my kids and Tim would probably throw Santa into the Salvation Army bin....fools. Not only is my Santa super special to me but if you only care about money, he's worth a pretty penny these days. My hope for Santa is that once I'm gone, he makes his way into another home to be appreciated and valued as he should be....it just doesn't seem right to discard Santa. It appears that part of growing old is worrying about what will become of your treasures. Maybe I'll gift my special Santa to one of my kids someday, with a lengthy note and motherly guilt attached so they can bring him out each year and hopefully feel a bit of his magic. For now and hopefully many years to come, Santa will stay put right here with me, bringing me holiday cheer year after year and never being put back in that cupboard again. He may even stay out throughout the year from now on, bringing me a touch of magic each and every month. Life's treasures are funny, you just never know what will stick to your psyche and become part of your story.... they carry happy memories, joyful feelings and bring happiness as if emitting magic into the air.... chalk one up for us sentimental folks.