DO YOU STILL BELIEVE?

I don't know when this picture was taken, but I do remember being distressed that we had to leave our snow pants on for the picture. We were inside, we had taken off our jackets, so why were our snow pants still on? I'm sure it was in the interest of time that Mom decided we'd leave the pants on (and we were probably wearing boots too), but I knew it wasn't right. We had worn nice dresses for the picture and they were all covered up. It's funny how I can remember all that, but I don't remember where the picture was taken. I'm guessing it was Arnold Constable's in Hackensack, NJ and probably 1949.

I still remember the day I found out about Santa. I was in kindergarten and we sat at long tables and there were maybe 6 to 8 of us at a table. One day Alan Friedman announced to the table, "You know there's no Santa Claus." He stated it as fact. We all nodded our heads in agreement. Not one person challenged the statement. Up until that moment I believed. I'm sure most of the others did too, but no one wanted to admit it. I guess we didn't want to look foolish or gullible? Even at 5 or 6 years old we cared about what our peers thought. I went home and told my mother there was no Santa Claus. After that Christmas was never quite the same. I guess some of my innocence was gone.

Every year the newspaper prints the famous "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" and every year I read it. I'm older and wiser now and if I ran into Alan Friedman today I would no longer be afraid to admit that I still believe. At 63 (almost 64) I don't care what my peers think anymore. Santa Claus is fun and I'm still young enough for fun!