A Terrifying Tradition

A rather exhausting saturday consisted of swim lesson, complete failure to nap, and attendance at the Mattapoisett tree lighting ceremony which was small town America at its best.  Santa’s arrival by fire truck was hailed in a similar manner to the Beatles arrival at JFK in 1964.    I was nearly trampled by a slew of small boys carrying plates piled high with lasagna and frosting covered donuts.  We waited in line to see Santa for 45 minutes while carols were belted out on an over-modulated P.A. punctuated intermittently by announcements of stray children and wedding proposals.  I am not sure if it was fatigue or the fact that I abruptly handed her to an enormous bearded stranger but Phoebe wanted nothing to do with the lap sitting tradition.