Sunday, December 20, 2009

An A-Musing Christmas Story Retold from 2008


Listen, kid, I'm tellin' ya one more time you can't have all the toys in the whole wide wide wide world. It just don't happen that way.


After The Mister's mother passed away, his brother, Doug, sent us a box filled with family pictures. We spent one evening browsing through photos filled with memories and enjoyed looking at pictures of The Mister and his parents at a time when they were all so young and vibrant and happy. Picnics, family gatherings, Easters, Christmas. There were pictures of family in Romania where both of his parents were born.
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The Mister handed me a photo (shown above) of himself as a cute little guy about 6 years old negotiating with Santa for a real horse, a Red Ryder BB gun, a new cowboy outfit, a Maserati and a blonde. I looked at it for a few minutes and realized that this picture looked very familiar. At least that Santa did, and the tree and the decorations on the wall. I said, "Wait just a minute here!That's MY Santa!"

I had a similar box of pictures up in the closet which I immediately wrangled off the shelf and started flipping through until I came up with this one:
Look, Nick, I'm not saying another thing until you give me one of those candy canes? Got it?
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Here I am, about 3 years old sitting on Santa's knee negotiating with him for one of the candy canes that are just out of sight in the picture. I remember sitting on Santa's knee that day. He WAS Santa with a soft red velvet suit, a snow white beard and a sparkle in his eye. I might have told him I wanted a doll. I don't remember that part, but I do remember the candy canes, and I wanted one. I'm pointing at them and agreeing that yes, I have been a good little girl. All year. And more than anything in the world I want one of those bright candy canes. Now.

If you look at these pictures carefully you will see that we each visited the very same Santa in the very same gold chair under the very same Christmas tree. The numbers in the right hand corner (both ending in 84) show that The Mister (he was called The Little Mister back then) probably showed up shortly after Thanksgiving, and I stopped in a few weeks later. I'm thinking Santa remembered that little dark eyed negotiator. When I showed up he put his plan in place. He knew all along what we really wanted for Christmas.
And we got it!

29 comments:

Devoted said...

I can't say anything other than...HOW COOL IS THAT?! It reminds me of those love stories where two people who are destined to meet keep missing each other...then at the right time...BAM! They run into each other...and it's L*O*V*E! Great post!

Anonymous said...

There is a Christmas movie with the same theme. I saw it last year but can't remember the name? Great story! I believe you are right about Santa's plan.

Shelley said...

This is the making for a romantic Christmas movie! you two were meant to be!

Debby said...

Muse - it struck me as funny stuff that there is a picture of you, pointing at Santa's candy, demanding your share. That desire to have it all started early, huh? Hopefully he gave candy to you, but if he did not, you'd have helped yourself!

PS I love your blog.

Sparky said...

I wish that my Sweetie and I had grown up in the same town. That is so WAY COOL! And so very romantic! Thanks for sharing. :o) ♥ ∞

thyme said...

What a coincidence! Very romantic.

And thank you for stopping by my blog :-)

Margaret Ann said...

OOOOH! MY! How I love this story...Absolutely...a wonderful example of the way life seems to works sometimes...full of little miracles....I like those times the best.I think we probably all do.Thanks for the great be smile this brought to my face! :)

Tess Kincaid said...

Oh, I love, love this!! Yes, it's definitely the SAME Santa! What are the odds? Obviously, the two of you grew up in the same neighborhood, right? But still. It's wonderful!

soulbrush said...

lordy lordy what little cuties and what a story....sigh...so romantic...

Betsy Brock said...

I'm speechless! That is soooo cool! So neat you both still have the photos!

Anna Lefler said...

Oh, this is too precious! I love it!

Talk about kismet!

Merry Christmas, Sugar.

XO

Anna

Nana Trish is Living the Dream said...

Little Cindy, you were so adorable and that is so neat that you guys were at the same place. Too cool!!!!!

steviewren said...

So the moral of the story is: ask for a blonde and it shall be given...20 or so years later...what about that Maserati? It really is a Wonderful Life!

MuseSwings said...

Thank you all so much - It was amazing to find those pictures. We both lived in Detroit at the time but at opposite ends of the city - so just like "finding" him on my front porch, this was just a wonderful coincidence. I love all of your comments!

Blicky Kitty said...

Wow that is amazing! So romantic!

It took me a little while to realize that it was the background and not some crazy Alfalfa bangs thing going on with Little Mister's hair. Oh my goodness he'd have asked for you by name if he'd seen Little Cindy that day. Maybe you were saying, "And Santa I want a little magic typewriter where I can put pictures and type funny things and I can make a whole bunch of friends who also have magic typewriters."

My sister asked for stew one year...

marianne said...

Oh what an adorable picture of you on Santa´s lap! So nice you still have them!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

That's just the best story ever! You two were obviously destined! And, what cute pictures!

Pat said...

That is too strange! What a lovely story of your destiny! Does Santa know? I guess he does...

Mim said...

I agree that this is a cool story but also a little bit freaky! Maybe Santa IS real and he did really know what you wanted...and we all really should be good (for goodness sake) etc. etc.

I'm going to the mall, I have ALOT to tell him.

Dave King said...

That was a really great story. Thanks for sharing it.

Anonymous said...

What a cute story! I have some observations to make: Santa looks about ten years older in the photo with you on his knee. But since only a few weeks had passed, the conclusion is obvious. Being Santa is very age-ing! It must wear on him to sit there day after day and listen to the lists of various children, especially when one of those kids has a list that includes precious jewels, priceless antiquities and several different passports! Yet there you were with that same list, year after year...(has anything changed to the present day? tee hee!!).

I'm also thinking that Cindi being Cindi, there was one *specific* candy cane you were hankering after and made Santa put back five *wrong* ones until he picked the *right* one for you...am I right or am I right~!?

And what else did you tell Santa that day? As he told you how hard the elves were working, did you retort, "Cry me a river! Talk to the hand! Gimme that candy-cane!"?

LOL!!!

Last but not least, I love the Mister's little bow-tie and slicked hair. Cherubic cuteness!

-Livoonia, thanks for telling me to stop by and see this!

Lavinia said...

Moose, I signed in, and just wanna vouch that I wrote the previous comment! It was me, I confess!

Margaret Ann said...

I am celebrating you today with a little award on my blog...WooHoo!:) Pop on over when and pick it up if you like! :)

MuseSwings said...

Blick - I've been laughing at your comments all day! What a riot: Litle Mister's hair/magic typewriter/stew. Bwahahaha!

LaVine0 - I think you are spot on with all of your conclusions - especially the aging Santa Imagine 12,000 little kids wearing snowpants and a bad attitude. Thanks for popping over!

Everyone else - I love your comments! Thank you!!!

Margaret Ann - thank you so much! I'll be right over.

jeanie said...

Wow - so the real Santa was in Detroit in 84?

ChaChaneen said...

Oh my stars! That is the best story! Small world for SURE! That will be a special story for your daughter to have too! Have you thought about having them framed side by side with a 'little story'? Priceless!

viridian said...

Wonderful! Makes your heart go boom!

ChaChaneen said...

Merry Christmas Cynthia! Have a wonderful day with your family and friends & blessings to you and your precious family!
Janeen

Lyneen said...

these are precious... Amazing that the pictures are so alike... what wonderful memories. Marry Christmas.