Best Christmas Ever – 1971
I wrote this back in 2007, for my personal blog on MySpace.
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We were telling Christmas stories at work the other day, and I told my “best Christmas ever” story. After I told it, I thought it might make a good blog, so here it is.
The location: Visalia California, the house on Divisadero Street, just down the block from the junior high I attended (now called a “Middle School” for reasons known only to the bureaucracy of schools).
The year: 1971 8th grade Jim is 14 and knows Santa’s secret identity.
Top item on the Christmas wish list: A 10-speed bike.
I had spent MONTHS hinting, suggesting, begging, pleading, and pretty much making a pest of myself asking for a new 10-speed. Each time it came up, the parents made it clear that they were just too much money, and I was “not going to get one…. sorry.” Well, Mom said “sorry”, Dad just said “NO”. They wouldn’t budge. Not even a “maybe”, or a “we’ll see”. Always “NO”. By around December 15th, I had pretty much written off the bike, since, as we all know very well, parents don’t lie to their kids! I don’t recall if I had a back-up wish list or not, and can’t recall anything else I might have asked for or wanted, but I do recall wistfully wishing there really were a Santa, because if there was, I might very well get that bike! {Big sigh}
Well, Christmas rolls around, and despite being a worldly wise and mature 14 year old (aren’t they all?) I had a bit of trouble getting to sleep Christmas Eve. I finally drifted off, and didn’t hear any commotion in the living room all night.
The time: the crack of dawn, Christmas Morning.
I woke before anyone else, even my two younger sisters. The sun was up, but just barely. I tiptoed down the hall, turned the corner into the living room, and stood there in utter shock. There, in front of the tree, was a brand new, shiny green Schwinn 10 speed bike! ( I know, you saw that coming, but stay with me)
I sat on the end of the couch, and stared at it for probably 15 minutes. I just could not believe it. They had so completely convinced me that I was not going to get the bike that I was just totally blown away. I finally noticed that I was sitting there in my underwear, and I was starting to get cold. I decided to jump back in bed, so I made my way back to my bedroom. I laid there in bed for a few minutes, not even able to really believe the bike was there. In fact, I was so afraid that it was just wishful thinking, or a dream, that I got up, went back into the living room and touched the bike, just to be sure it was real! I went back to bed for a while, and waited for everyone else to get up. While I lay there waiting, I was just in seventh heaven. I got my bike!
That also set the stage for never completely believing my parents again when they said no….. but I don’t think they thought of that at the time!
Oh, and the very first time I rode that bike, later that morning, I promptly ran into the back of a parked car, while trying to watch the gears change!
Good Christmas holidays before and after, but this is the one that I will always think of first. I hope your holiday will be a good one.
