Winter Wonderland

When I was younger, Christmas seems to start in October, because
that is when we started practicing for the Christmas shows at your church, and
school. I remember it all like it was only yesterday. At church we would learn
the words to great Christmas songs such as Silent Night and Joy to the World.
While at school the songs were all about Santa, and if you were lucky enough
you might also have a part in the Christmas play. The music of the Christmas
season was in the air. All that was left to do was decorate the awnings and windows with lights, decorate the tree, and take a trip to Winter Wonderland.

As I remember it, Winter Wonderland was sponsored by a local Recreation and parks. It was held at a building on Stansbury Field where the haunted house was held.  Shortly after Thanksgiving, the haunted house was transformed into a Christmas display that would make any child under the age of eleven believe that they had been magically transported to the North Pole.  They had talking reindeer and elves working on toys, talking snowmen and at the end you could talk to Santa.

When I was in the first grade at Bear Creek Elementary we went to Winter Wonderland on a field trip. I remember all of the children talking about the trip, telling tales of last year’s trip, and debating the list to Santa this year. I wished that my friends from my old school were here with me, so that we could see Santa together. At the time I did not have many friends, my family was new to the neighborhood, and I had only been attending Bear Creek for a few weeks. To make matters worse, the only friend that I had made was a boy named Chris that was a year older than I, and his class did not go on the field trip. My excitement was overwhelming; I had never been to Winter Wonderland before. Time seemed to stand still; days were like years while we waited for the day of the big field trip. The sadness of missing the children from my old school was overshadowed by my thoughts of visiting Santa, but I still wished that I had friends at my new school like the ones at my old.

Finally the big daycame. We walked single file through The Winter Wonderland, slowly taking in the magic and wonders that is the North Pole. We talked to the reindeer and joked with the snowman, and we watched the elves work on the Christmas toys. Finally we made it to the end. We walked into a room and against the wall was a Christmas tree, a fire place and a big leather chair. We all stood shoulder to shoulder staring at the wall and in through the door came Santa. “Ho, Ho, Ho” cried Santa, “look at all of these good little boys and girls. He walked up and down the line of children like a general reviewing his troops. Santa stopped
when he got to me; he looked down at me and said nothing. My heart stopped.
What did I do? Was I in trouble? Did I make the reindeer mad? Did I offend the
Snowman? Was I… No notthat, was I on the Naughty List? Then Santa started to smile, and said to me, “your name is Troy you live on Diehwood road.” Shocked that Santa knew my name I proudly said, yes, yes sir, I’m Troy. “Well I know that you are a very special little boy, and I also know that you have been extra good this year,” said Santa. When Santa finished walking down the line of children, he thenwalked to his chair and took a seat. Everyone was given time to visit with
Santa and give him our Christmas lists.  Outside as we walked to the bus all of the children were walking up to me and asking how I knew Santa. I was a celebrity for the day; after all, I had friends in high places. I was able to make friends with my classmates very easily after that trip to Winter Wonderland. Every first grader wants to be friends with the kid that is best buddies with Santa.

Many years later, I was at my friend Chris’ house for Christmas dinner. We had finished eating, and over coffee and desert we all took turns telling stories of our favorite Christmas memories. When it was my turn, to tell my story, I told the story of me as the shy first grader that was able to make friends, because Santa knew my name. I told everyone that I would love to know who it was that played Santa that day, and how I would love to shake his hand and thank him. Chris’ parents both stared at one another, and started to laugh.  Chris’ father leaned over and said “Ho, Ho, Ho, little boy, you just did.”  

Troy W. Pritt