Unexpected Christmas delights seniors

Santa and his merry elves paid a surprise visit to Galveston County seniors this Christmas, bringing delight and smiles to us old folks from Christmas’s past. Thank you for giving us a “Christmas to Remember.”

Many hadn’t received a present in years. Some didn’t share their holiday season with anyone, much less Santa Claus! So, it felt so good bring in the midst of all that job and excitement.

We literally could touch the sharing of love, forget for a while our ails and woes —

and we were children again. What an amazing sensation!

This holiday party was truly a miracle gift to us seniors. With ugly Ike and “Naughty ’09,” most of us worried with just living, praying there would be food enough for our families and maybe a toy for a grandbaby. Not one of us gave a single thought that Santa would come for us.

Well, to “Margaret” and the older folks of Galveston County, there really is a Santa Claus! Just ask anyone at the Nessler Center in Texas City last December. Everybody got a sack full of gifts that never seemed to empty. We ate plate fulls of real Christmas dinner. Turkey, ham and all the trimmings, including sweet tea, chocolate cupcakes and peppermint sticks. Don’t tell, but some of us even got seconds on the ham and turkey, and those cupcakes, too! There was even a live band to entertain us.

Then there were the drawings for the big presents: flat screen TVs, washers and dryers, stereo systems, very nice furniture, free service for a year on the appliances, plus a year’s supply of detergent and fabric softener. The gifts kept coming even after the festivities stopped.

Each and every one of us received a grocery sack of canned goods, and it was good stuff! Santa Claus and his elves certainly outdid themselves for Galveston County seniors this Christmas! How do you suppose Santa got all that stuff on just one sleigh?

I have a Christmas wish for you this year, Santa: If only there was a way to put all this loving and giving and sharing of laughter into a big box to fit on your sleigh. Even a gift card if there’s not enough room. Or, best of all, Santa just fill our hearts full, not just as Christmas, but every year, all year, forever. Wow!

Thanks, Santa, for all that you represent in the world. Let there be peace on earth.

Sarah Rice lives in La Marque.