THE BEAUTIFUL SECRET

Every Saturday in December, we will share a Beers at the Nifty “Christmas classic”. Today’s post originally ran 12/15/2021, to great fanfare. Well, I liked it.

Life is full of secrets, good and bad.

But some secrets – and the way they are guarded – are beautiful secrets.

And the most beautiful secret of all is Santa Claus.

Our oldest grandchild is 9, and I wonder if he still believes.

Of course, I can’t ask him, but he is at an age where common sense – or older/meaner kids – prevail and Santa is ‘outed’.

But I know that even if he no longer believes, he won’t ruin it for his younger siblings.

The beautiful secret will be safe with him. Just like centuries of children before him.

Part of the reason is risk avoidance. When that first glimmer of doubt appears – “It has to be Mom and Dad” – they keep it to themselves for fear the gifts won’t show if they’re wrong…

Part of it is “being in the know” on a grown-up secret. He is still of the age that believes adults have some grand plan for a better world – he’ll learn that ‘bad secret’ later – and it’s cool to be in on it.

Part of it is respect for the experience: the innate recognition that the anticipation of Christmas is almost (almost) better than the gifts, and the need to save that feeling for the ‘un-knowing’. Our daughter received an in-school suspension for ‘taking down’ the 3^rd grader who was spoiling it for everyone.

I flashed back to the Sears catalog as I wrote this, which was our anticipation cornerstone, way back during the Eisenhower administration. I remember like it was yesterday, it was also the last time I rode a bike…

We excitedly checked the mail for its arrival. If it were delayed, that was a real existential crisis. Once received, my siblings and I alternated studying the toy section, circling our selections. The wish list was shared with our parents (merely on an FYI basis), included in our Letter to Santa, and shared again when we saw him at the mall. He nodded knowingly, indicating he had read our letters.

We then hoped for the best – and most – on Christmas morning.

As an aside, anyone under the age of 40 may be shocked to learn that we were excited to receive mail (did my decoder ring arrive?), it didn’t all come in brown boxes, the largest retailer was Sears, their catalog weighed 30+ pounds, and we wrote letters. And we hoped for the best, as opposed to demanding.

Part of it is he lacks a hardened exterior, and hasn’t yet learned the thrill of ruining other people’s fun. He remains a ‘nice kid’ and I’m enough of an optimist to believe he will remain so. Wish him luck…

But even so, he will need to learn to duck on occasion.

But a big part of it is he retains his childhood sense of wonder. The Christmas season is an amazing time, and the delicious anticipation might be the best part.

And while adults feel all of that in their ‘adult way’, it is nothing compared to the season experienced through a child’s eyes.

Remember? 

But so much of our anticipation is the commercial and family togetherness side of the Holiday, which is great, but misses the central point.

I can’t say it any better than Linus did, reminding us of the “reason for the season”.

Even 8 year old me would have circled “gratitude and renewal” in the Sears catalog, as the best gift we can give ourselves.

Merry Christmas!

Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?
Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
[moves toward the center of the stage]
Linus Van Pelt: Lights, please.
[a spotlight shines on Linus]
Linus Van Pelt: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not:”
[Linus drops his security blanket on purpose]
Linus Van Pelt: “for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'”
Linus Van Pelt: [Linus picks up his blanket and walks back towards Charlie Brown] That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

For 263 more posts like this –each with a wish for some mistletoe– go to beersatthenifty.com. Your phone will display every post, and you can waste an hour or two.

TO ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR IT WITH THE FOLLOWING SONGS:

There are a lot of ‘Christmas albums’, and my favorites include Diana Krall and Harry Connick, Jr. among many others.

But I just learned (22 years later) BB King has a Christmas album, ‘A Christmas Celebration of Hope’, which is way delightful. Lucille may have even bought a new holiday pick for the occasion. Check it out.