Surprise Santa

Get into the spirit of the holiday by playing Santa for a friend or neighbor in need. By "in need", I don't just mean financially; there are so many people who are alone on the holiday. Fill a small stocking and leave it on their door as a surprise, with a card signed "Santa". Don't let them catch you, it's more fun that way, and much more rewarding to do something nice for someone without expecting recognition or thanks.

I did this many years ago for an older neighbor who was alone and she ended up becoming part of our family. At first she had no idea who was leaving Christmas stockings and Easter baskets on her door, but eventually she figured it out even though I never admitted to it. It became a game with her telling me the next day that she'd had a delivery late at night and me acting surprised, followed by a discussion about if Santa was really real!

It never failed to thrill and delight her, and it brought back some happiness and joy to her holidays since she'd lost her husband many years earlier and her only child and grandchild lived out of state, so she was alone most of the time! You can't measure or describe the way it made me feel!

By Judy = Oklahoma from OK