Yes Virginia, There Is Still A Santa Claus

Dear Virginia,

I am writing you now in response to your recent email inquiring as to whether or not there is still a Santa Claus. By way of answering you, I'd like to tell you a little story.

My father is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Idolizing him as I did as a child, it was natural that I also idolized his home town sports teams. I was passionate about the Steel Curtain Steelers of Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Franco Harris, Mean Joe Greene and Jack Lambert. But it was a toss up if I loved them more or the "We Are Family" old-timey outfitted Pirates of Willie Stargell, Dave Parker, Kent Tekulve, Ed Ott, Omar Moreno, Phil Garner and all the rest. I'm still a Steelers fan, but the Pirates lost my undying allegiance one day, twenty-seven years ago at Three Rivers Stadium. That day, standing in the first row near third base during batting practice as a fresh-faced ten year old, was the day Willie Stargell tossed a souvenir baseball not to me, but to that sickeningly cute seven year old kid standing next to me.

Interestingly enough, I think that moment bothered me more than -- sorry to blow the lid on this Virginia -- finding out my parents were Santa Claus four years previous. On some level I already knew Santa was a fraud even before Brian Kux, my red-haired neighbor two doors down back in Washington D.C., cemented into eternity my collapsed North Pole house of card illusions one Christmas Day... Read More >>