Dear boys,
Earlier this month it was confirmed that after more than 25 years, the best Santa in greater New York was finally hanging up his hat. Once the initial shock wore off that we wouldn’t be returning to ABC Carpet & Home, I set out to find the second most legit Santa in the tristate knowing two things were certain: 1) there’s no way I’d step foot inside Macy’s and 2) I had a nine year-old with a discerning eye for Santa legitimacy. We’d been going to see the same Santa for almost a decade and now we were faced with the VERY REAL possibility this would be the end of Cash’s remaining belief.
I’ve always told you boys Santa stops coming once you stop believing which, in many respects, was to protect younger Grey from being robbed prematurely. I thought that by now Cash, you’d have outright asked me if Santa is real, instead opting for more indirect questions. When asked if you were the only one in the class who still believes, your teacher said, “Absolutely not! Almost half of the class still does.”
Though the other half of your class is likely casting some doubt, it’s clear you aren’t ready to give up the magic of tradition. There’s probably some desire to protect me and Grey as well, thinking you’ll hurt my feelings if you’re upfront with me, knowing Grey still believes without abandon. In your eyes it’s best not to say anything. And in my eyes it’s best not to either, thereby protecting your kind and beautiful heart.
After some research I decided we’d go up to Westchester to see the Santa at the Ridge Hill mall who, from the website photos, looked like he just might pass muster. Maybe the place would be dimly lit? Maybe excitement and nerves would curtail Cash’s discernment? But … I should’ve known better.
As the first family in line (big shocker!) we watched Santa move toward and settle into his comfy green chair. “Mom,” you said, motioning me to lower my ear so you could whisper, “I think this Santa is a fraud … He looks different … His clothes are different … Maybe we should tell someone that Santa was kidnapped?!” I just nodded and shrugged my shoulders as if I wasn’t paying too much attention.
A few moments later…
“But Mom, you know what? Even if he’s a fraud it doesn’t matter. I still like the sentiment of it all.”
Cash’s naughty or nice sketchbook creation
For now you’ll sit on Santa’s lap, mail him a letter, and hilariously, go so far as to create lists of ways you’ve been good and bad with a “Cash head” slider to move between them. In your letter to Santa you asked him to describe his “workshop building room”. “If you can’t tell me, I totaly [sic] get that. People say that to me other times. I get a little disponted [sic] but I quickly get over it.”
Grey Bear, I knew you’d have absolutely no trouble making the Santa shift this year. What I didn’t know was that you’d be asking him for a cotton candy machine! A COTTON CANDY MACHINE?!! Really Grey? “Yes! Yes! Yes!! I’m asking Santa for a cotton candy machine!”
You volunteered, enthusiastically I might add, to be the first to sit on “new” Santa’s lap with your kilowatt smile. While I wasn’t allowed to take personal photos — hello marketing! — it wasn’t all bad since the photo purchase guaranteed our time slot. Plus I think they actually turned out pretty nice. Then it was off to the nearby Cheesecake Factory for corndogs and sliders — wins for the whole family!
With only three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it was a challenge fitting in all the things we normally do during the holidays. But one thing you boys didn’t want to miss was our trip to see the tree at Rockefeller Center.
Even though you live here, native New Yorkers we like to say, you still get excited to see all the lights and decorations during the most magical time of year.
On this day you took your first ever “brothers selfie” in front of the giant tree. What a great job taking this photo Cash! I couldn’t have done any better and couldn’t love it any more. Such a beautiful capture of you two during one of our holiday traditions.
Wishing you boys a very Merry Christmas! And a new year filled with days as sweet as homespun cotton candy!
I love you both so much.
Always and forever, Mom