I can't remember a Christmas Eve in my childhood with the parade. This makes perfect sense because the year before I was born my father created a tradition that has found its way into the hearts of so many children in Saugus. My Dad had an idea - a way to make Christmas Eve even more special for my Mom, for his children, and for all of the kids in his town.
Growing up it became routine in our house. We would sit down to sing "Happy Birthday" to my Mom, have cake, give her presents, and then start bundling up. We had to be to my Dad's shop by 5:30 (or was it 6?). I would stand by my Mom and watch my Dad go to work. He'd direct all of the fire trucks, police cars, tow trucks, ambulances, etc. Somehow he always managed to get everyone where they needed to be by 6:30. When I was little it always amazed me that Santa came to my dad's work. Clearly my Dad had an "in" with Mr. Clause; he was even the one person Santa trusted to drive him around the town.
One of my earliest memories is making it through the entire parade outside, on the back of the float. It was a pretty big deal. As I grew up I invited friends to join me on the parade and I started to realize in middle school how special the parade was to so many people in Saugus. My best friend at the time told me that her entire family came to Saugus just to see the Santa Parade. Throughout the years the parade became even more special as it took on new meaning with life's ups and downs.
In 2010, the year my father passed away, I wasn't sure I wanted to do the parade without him. In some ways it didn't seem right to leave his shop without him driving Santa Clause; but my brother reminded me of why my Dad started the parade: for the kids. Three months after my father passed away the Christmas Eve Parade in Saugus left 16 Hamilton Street at 6:30pm. By the end of the parade I was so proud of my mom, my brothers, and everyone else who helped us keep the spirit of Christmas alive that year.
We decided to help with the parade for a second year, but in 2012 my brothers, my mom, and I made the decision to let others in the town of Saugus to take the lead. Since then I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the parade. I vaguely remember walking down the street to watch it drive by, but I have no recollection of actually watching it.
Tonight, Justin and I left my Mom's house around 6:45. I had heard, fifteen minutes prior, the sound of the police cars, fire trucks, and other vehicles leaving the center of town. For the 30th year the children and families in Saugus were about to have a special visit from Santa. As the two of us were driving through Saugus I got the urge to watch the parade. We happened to be driving by a part of Saugus where the parade was about to make it's appearance, so we pulled over. Justin parked the car on a dead end street and we waited.
I heard the parade before I saw it. When the first car drove by I started to cry. I watched the entirity of the parade with tears streaming down my face. I was sad, but I was also so incredibly proud. The people in the house that we parked next to came outside (in the pouring rain) and watched the parade go by, as did the other cars who parked on the street with us. For those four minutes everyone was expriencing the joy of Christmas. Santa Clause drove by and waved, and for a second I knew my Dad was watching with me.
I'm grateful that I grew up in home where my parents believed in Christmas. They believed in the magic and the joy that the season could bring. I'm grateful that my family has a little piece of a tradition that has brought happiness to so many children in Saugus. I'm grateful my Dad believed in Santa Clause.
No comments:
Post a Comment