12/13/2024
Olive attended Light Up New Albany and had the chance to talk with Santa. When he asked her what she wanted for Christmas, my sweet girl told him she really wanted a pink typewriter but thought her parents might be taking care of that, so she had a little request instead: Instead of toys, she said, “Could you please help my Grammy and Mom instead? My Grammy has dementia and my mom has cancer.” 🥹
I was ill that night and wasn’t in attendance, although Olive’s dad shared the moment with me. A week later, I hosted the Indiana University Southeast Holiday Pops evening performance and was backstage when Santa joined me. We talked for a moment before it was our turn to take the stage, and I asked if he remembered a little girl at Light Up who’d made the request Olive had. Santa lit up and said yes! “That was my daughter, Santa,” I told him, willing the tears not to fall.
What I hadn’t known is that when Olive asked for this special gift, Santa shared that he had a little black book he always carried with him for requests like hers. In the book, he explained, he wrote down the names of the people and then, each night, he and his 5,829 elves would pray for each one by name.
I know my husband and I have worked hard to raise Olive right—even as we make mistakes along the way—but I am so grateful for the many people in our lives who pour into her, too. Every drop counts, whether it’s prayers and good thoughts from afar, time spent with a little girl who has faced so much over the past year, or even a brief interaction with Santa, whose kindness won’t ever be forgotten. 🎅🏻♥️
