Loose Leaf Notes

1. When I find myself feeling bad that I missed seeing Santa at the Floyd Christmas parade this year, I remind myself that I met at least four Santas in Colonial Williamsburg over the weekend.  There was the traditional Santa Christmas Card ‘Tell me what you want for Christmas’ department store Santa.

2. There was a friendly Old Saint Nick in the Market Square.

3. And even a Santa on a motorcycle.

4. The next lady who posed with very tall Father Christmas, asked if she could climb in his sack, which caused her husband to quip, “She’s always wanted to get Santa in the sack.”

5. Not only did we see lots of Santas, we ate dinner with George and Martha Washington, shepherd’s pie and bangers and mash at the DOG (Duke of Gloucester) Street Tavern.

6. There were Drum and Fife Minute Men Marches

7. Pints at pubs and skaters on ice

8. A bell ringing concert, street performers, walking tours and horse and buggy rides.

9. We didn’t see as many Christmas lights as I thought we would because one lighted candle in the window was the Old Colonial way, but we did see open fire lamps (cressets) along the streets.

10. And we did see this.

11. Not only did we see that but we went inside and had a meal by the fireplace. This is the place where Joe said to me, “Phase three in which Doris gets her couch.”

12. And we did see the most elaborate fireworks display that I’ve ever seen, going off from three views at once for a Grand Illumination Celebration.

13.  The whole time we were there (2 nights), I don’t remember hearing one Santa say, “Ho Ho Ho.” We didn’t walk in mile in George’s shoes, but we did do a lot of walking.

__________Thirteen Thursday