Believing in Santa was easy for us as kids because he came to our house every year. Not just in the quiet, familiar way - slipping down the chimney on Christmas Eve - but in a way that was impossible to miss. With lights flashing and horns sounding, Santa would arrive early in a big, shiny red firetruck, turning an ordinary afternoon into something truly magical.
You see, my Uncle Mike was a volunteer firefighter, and every year he put on a red suit and white beard to play Santa in the parade and hand out gifts at the local fire station. Then, when the last gift was given, he’d climb back into the firetruck and make one final stop - the little yellow house on Ashby Street.
He’d swing open the front door with a booming “Ho, ho, ho,” a sack of gifts slung over his shoulder, larger than life as he made his way to the family room and settled right onto the sofa. He didn’t say much, careful not to give himself away, but looking back now, I can’t imagine how we missed the sparkle in Uncle Mike’s eyes as we climbed onto his lap and opened our gifts.
Maybe it was the magic of Christmas that kept his secret safe. Or maybe it was the simple wonder of having Santa himself sitting in our living room. Whatever it was, he had us completely fooled. And as he drove away in his shiny red “sleigh,” decked out in lights and ladders, we stood there with jaws on the floor and hearts overflowing with Christmas spirit.
Thank you for making Christmas all the more memorable, Uncle Mike.
Santa Mike’s Fragrance Flight
- Cookies for Santa (snickerdoodle)
- Vanilla Eggnog
- Butterscotch & Bourbon
The custom flameless candle created from this flight blends one part Vanilla Eggnog with one part Butterscotch & Bourbon - a special spiked treat for ‘Santa’ on Christmas Day.