The Lions Club Of Land O’ Lakes Roar

Do you remember when you fully believed in Santa? I was thinking about that a few days ago. I went into a full dive of memories, and, for a few seconds, I lost track of where I was and allowed my mind to wander off to my childhood house. To the time when Santa was so real. I remembered the day I woke up and was filled with stories of how I had spotted Santa coming in through the window, and how I hid behind the couch and watched him as he laid presents. I recalled my mum laughing and I was angry because she was not “taking me seriously enough”. This was a very serious matter! Santa was, and I am so sure about it, in our living room.

Fast forward. My older son wanted a big red car from Santa. My younger wanted chips and chocolate. We went shopping for that with our kids, yet, when they opened their gifts, there was total awe at how Santa knew what they wanted and brought it to the house for them to tear through wrapping paper and plunge into the total excitement of the moment.

Deck the Halls. The Lions Club of Land O’ Lakes has been decked with ribbons, presents and a large tree too. And now we wait. We wait not for Santa, not for the elves. We wait for that child, full of belief who will walk in looking for Santa. The elves will be exciting, so will the décor, but the quest is ultimately for the man in the red suit.

Rewind. One day, when I was seven years old, my grandmother told me … That day I grew up. I was suddenly older; I was in the know now. I was one of the big kids. The ones who didn’t walk into spaces looking for the man in the red suit.

Today. I still believe in Santa. I always will. I believe in the power of the story that binds us as adults in the knowledge that we all were once kids, but more importantly, that we are the adults capable of giving the kids, the ones who still believe, a Christmas to remember. From Santa Claus Parade (Nov. 22) to Santa’s Workshop (Dec 6) we dream to make sure their dreams are filled with sugar canes.

Till we meet again in a Roar, … no let us skip this and just say: “God Bless Us, Everyone”