I still giggle about last week when you were all agitated and down in the dumps a little, and then MommaLisa came into the room all excited Bob! Santas here and hes gonna come to your room to see you! You got all quiet and your eyes got all big, and in a little comical voice you asked Hes coming to see ME?! Is he bringing me a present?! And she played along He sure is, and he IS bringing you a present! Have you been a good boy?! It was the first time Id seen any lightness of being in your face since wed arrived, everything about you suddenly seemed to be smiling and you answered No, I havent been, Ive been an asshole, but thats no reason not to get a present! MommaLisa and I busted out laughing and you even laughed too. Then she said Ssshhh. Listen. You can hear the bells on his boots. Hes coming, hes coming! And we all got quiet, and sure enough we could hear jingle bells clanging down the hall, getting steadily louder.... You looked like a little kid to me, grinning and leaning your head sideways in the direction of the door. Then Santa whipped into the doorway: MERRRRR-Y CHRISTMAS! HoHoHo!!! You looked almost shocked, and then held out your hand as he came to your bedside with his hand out as well How are you Marine?! Are you ready for Christmas? A lump rose up in my throat as you wrapped both your hands around his and your voice got softer, Im doin okay Santa. Im doin okay. Then he asked you So, what would you like for Christmas this year?; he was still being all jolly and loud and vibrant. I held my breath. It was anybodys guess what might pop out of your mouth these days. LOL! Sometimes you just blurted out really inappropriate stuff and sometimes downright embarrassing stuff, and so impromptu encounters like this make my spine retract, bracing for what might come next..... You sat there for a minute, completely quiet, looking down at your lap, then you looked up at him and said Santa, are you a religious man?, he answered Yes sir, I am, then you said to him Then Id really like you to pray for me. Tears started streaming down my face. That Santa said a most beautiful prayer. You were quiet and still and concentrating on it the entire time. Santas voice became more like silk with every word he spoke. I could see your hands, usually very weak, tightening around his. He stepped in even closer to your bedside and leaned lower, and you leaned closer toward him, like you were being hypnotized. I thought I might faint from not wanting to breathe too loud so that I could make sure you could hear what he was saying. When he finally said ....Amen, you opened your eyes and raised your head Thank you Santa, Im going to have a good Christmas now. I think I even saw a tear in Santas eye as well. The room was incredibly peaceful and warm. Then after a short pause you asked him What is your religion Santa?, and Santa quickly responded Im Methodist young man. There was another pause, and then you busted out with a laugh so loud and so hard that all Santas everywhere would be jealous! METHODIST?!?!?! hahaahaaha! MY Santa is METHODIST! Who would have guessed?!?!? I dont know why, but it felt like glitter and balloons should be falling in droves from the ceiling all of a sudden! There was such an amusement in your voice, such a joy and gregariousness that I had never heard before. It was contagious and everyone started laughing, even the other Marine at the door who had been escorting Santa from room to room busted out. We were all caught off guard but all immediately caught up in it with you. You shook his hand briskly and told him Thank you Santa! and let him be on his way to his next mission. After he had left your room, you were still grinning like a Cheshire cat. You shook your head back and forth like in disbelief and in your old familiar voice shouted out MY Santa is METHODIST! GO figure! MommaLisa reached over and wiped a stream of tears coming from your eye. I cant imagine loving you both more than I did right then. Thank you Santa, for giving me the both of them in my life.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 16:10:54 +0000
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