A trip to Macy’s to see marionettes in the windows, chestnuts popping in a fire grate before being scooped up in newspaper cones, sparkling lights glinting off of tinseled street decorations: Yes, every cliche of the holiday becomes real in memories.  Ahem, let me clarify that. Such memories are cliche for only those of us fortunate enough to experience them first hand. For Mom, those never became familiar enough to be treated with ennui.

Mom moved into her new home about two weeks before Christmas, and — wow! — did the nuns, nurses, staff, and volunteers ever do up the holidays. Her labyrinth residence is full of turns and twists, and with each little pivot a new nativity set, a smiling snowman, or a winter wonderland pops up. Is it overkill? Yes for someone up and moving, independent and jaded, sophisticated and philosophical like — well, like me.

What of those people who never got to meet Santa? Patient people who stayed up late on Christmas Eve to stuff stockings with hard-earned toys, nuts, and candies? Those who never had enough to eat, much less stuff themselves? These parents and grandparents now come to Christmas celebrations with renewed hope. I smiled to see that last Saturday Mom was going to enjoy “Breakfast With Santa” but I beamed when I saw the photo of her actually sitting next to the jolly old soul. Obligingly, Santa wore the traditional red velvet, and his beard was perfectly curly as was the white wig that sat askew on his head. Still, there was Mom next to him, her new haircut that makes her look like Dame Judy Dench, a bright scarf around her neck, a holiday sweater sparkling to match her eyes. She is blissful, absolutely blissful, and I realize the meaning of the holiday for a few, fresh, non-jaded moments.  Far beyond childhood years, she has missed out on much of the magic of growing up with comforts and dreams. No matter, though, for she got to see Santa. She was the one smiling with the mythic elf, and she got to be young at Christmas. Far from jaded, she now gets to enjoy the simple joys she provided for us, her many children.