I remember it was Christmas of 1994.

The year I found out Santa Claus isn’t real.
Well, at least not the big guy in a red suit. I think somehow, I’ve realized the dreadful truth long before I was ready to let go of a childhood certainty.

After all, it wasn’t just all about the big guy in a red suit. It was the magic of my Christmas. Having that dreadful feeling of finding out the truth I kept pushing at the back of my head, I was surprised that Christmas morning to see something bulging from my “santa socks” (which was actually my papa’s old tattered gray socks). It was a gift from Santa. It was a little bit late that year but I sighed a deep relief. There I saw a cheap bag that had a “pretty mermaid” stamped on its plastic buckle. A suspicious looking mermaid, supposedly, Ariel with Orange hair was printed on the flap.

I was sorely disappointed. After so many years of expensive chocolates, beautiful fairytale storybooks and hard bounds, expensive toys and toy sleighs, Santa got economical that Christmas of 1994.

So of course, I found out the truth. Or better yet, I accepted the truth.

I also found out that my Ate Hazel, who was also just a kid then learned about that awful truth, a little earlier than I did. Although brokenhearted herself, she was determined to save me from finding out too soon and giving me another year to savor the magic. With her meager allowance, she bought my pretty mermaid bag... and gave me one of my most cherished childhood Christmas memories.

It was Christmas of 1994 when I found out that Santa isn’t real.

Ironically, it was also that year I got the most cherished gift from “Santa”. =)

I LOVE YOU TETEL. I always have the best memories with you.

Happy Birthday!