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Topic: Home for Christmas (11/20/08)
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TITLE: Since the Last Time... | Previous Challenge Entry
By Larie Norvell
11/26/08 -
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In 1999, my husband and I left the United States for an Air Base in Japan. Neither of us was Christians and didn’t have an interest in “doing the right thing.” Our first Christmas we purchased a live tree from the boy scouts and celebrated with friends. The following year we didn’t feel like being bothered with a tree, real or fake, so we just placed our gifts under our end table. I really don’t remember what happened for our third Christmas but the fourth I was pregnant with our first child and I did not think I could stomach the smell of a live tree. So we placed our gifts under the end table again and ate dinner with friends.
Now, by our fifth Christmas, we had both been baptized and began to question some of our traditions. After we studied the origin and rituals of Christmas, we decided that it was something we did not want to participate in. We stopped exchanging gifts, decorating and sending cards. For us, the 25th of December had begun to be, “Just another day.”
September 2007 came and marked the end of our overseas tour. Our family members were aware of the decision we made concerning the celebration of Christmas. However, we decided to go home anyway since it is the for sure one time everyone is off and together. We still opted not to participate in the traditions, but we were able to spend time and have dinner with them.
Hindsight, our being there was not a wise decision. Our children were confused as well as hurt. Confusion set in mostly for our, at the time, four-year-old because she knew that we did not do and why, but yet we were in the midst of it. We tried to explain to her our thought process of why it was okay for us to be there enjoying being with our family but not choosing to participate. She was also confused because her cousin, who is just 1 year older than her, told her that “Santa” gave him a bike. Our daughter informed him that “Santa” is not real. Of course he said that he is because his mother had told him so. My husband was sitting beside my aunt when the two cousins approached them. My cousin said, “Mama, ain’t Santa Clause real?”
“Yeah Arnold he is”
“See Evelyn, I told you!”
Our daughter turned to my husband and said, “Daddy, I thought you said he’s not real. Somebody puts on a suit.”
“You right Pumpkins!”
My aunt was a bit disappointed and then told her son that “Santa” is real for her because he helps her get the things for her children since she is a single parent and he does not have to help get Evelyn things because she has both parents! My husband knew what was coming so he looked at Evelyn and said, “Evelyn, that is not true. We do not believe in Santa Clause. He is not real.”
“But daddy, Arnold keeps saying he is and I’m telling him he’s not.”
“That’s fine Pumpkins, you can’t make him believe it, so don’t argue with him. Just say, “Okay,” and leave it alone.”
There was a bit more conversation between the four of them before it was completely done, but my aunt was upset at our telling Evelyn there was no Santa because she felt like it would ruin it for other children who believe. We were even asked, “Why are ya’ll here?”
This year and the ones to follow, we will not be home for Christmas.
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