Bob's Corner
From our weekly issue dated December 19, 2007
As Christmas Day nears, a memory stirs about a man named Ted, a friend of ours who loved the meaning of Christmas. He also was dying of leukemia.
Being ill did not slow him down much at first. He stayed active in his church and around his home shop. Also, Ted had a great sense of humor. He was one of those men who actually had a twinkle in his eyes. And they especially twinkled when he told jokes.
He enjoyed lots of funny stories. Some of them were what you might say were “slightly off-color” or “blue.” Didn’t stop Ted, even though his wife would chide him about his anecdotes. He was known in his church for telling such jokes too, and no one minded.
Ted was not a big man physically. He stood maybe 5-6 and weighed perhaps 130 pounds soaking wet. As the leukemia progressed, he began to lose what weight he had. Still didn’t slow him down much because he was huge in courage and character. Especially around Christmas.
He thoroughly enjoyed playing Santa Claus. He came to our home several times on Christmas Eve. He would don a traditional Santa suit, and whiten his beard, which was black shot with gray. As his wife was a cosmetologist, he had some help in that area.
We’d be in our living room, and there’d be the sound of sleigh bells. We’d open the front door, and there would be a hugely grinning Ted … I mean, cheerful St. Nick. He carried a big sack over one shoulder, and would distribute gifts to our three children. They always enjoyed his visits. He was so exuberant that he radiated a spirit you could feel.
Came one Christmas, and Santa Ted was late. He eventually showed up, looking pale and wan. But still cheerful with his wide grin, and with a funny story and gifts. His wife told us later that he struggled mightily that night to become Santa. Everything was becoming a struggle because of his illness.
But that Christmas Eve, despite his aches and pain he was in as fine a form as he could be. He didn’t want to let our kids down, or any other kids he would visit that night. He had a tenderness and a feeling for the part. It was the last time he made his appearance as St. Nicholas.
He died some months later. We were saddened. But whenever I want to feel the happiness of the true Christmas spirit -- giving and sharing for others no matter what -- all I need do is remember Ted, a right jolly old elf.
Hey, I think I just heard some sleigh bells ...
