What little holiday traditions do you look forward to?

Last night, in a fit of cabin fever, I swept up my little one and dashed off to the mall, to play Pokemon Go and check out the bookstore.

It was of course jam-packed with shoppers, but since it is an outdoor mall – like an organized town center with big courtyards and parking ‘round the outside – it wasn’t stifling.

A local dance troupe made up of high school kids put on scenes from The Nutcracker on a stage in front of the big tree. Seeing my little boy get so excited about ballet was heartwarming. We’re going to watch the whole thing tonight on TV.

When we made it to Macy’s, we came across the red chair set before a red table by a big red mailbox.

I hadn’t brought a letter to Santa at Macy’s since I was a youngling! Oh, but how I remember it. Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus… the parade… standing in line to see the Big Guy himself. Of course all dashed when I was eight and found out Santa wasn’t real.

We don’t do the Santa thing at home, but just for fun, Ian and I both wrote up a Santa postcard and dropped it in the mailbox. Macy’s will donate $1 for each letter to the Make a Wish Foundation.

It felt really good to get my wishes on paper, and I think Ian enjoyed it, too, especially sharing our pens with other kids who came up to write or draw their wishes beside us.

What little things bring out the Holiday Spirit in you?