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December 24, 2018

The Most Wonderful Time

One Christmas Eve my father told us a story. Gathered on my brother’s bed, he whispered conspiratorially of stamping hooves and shaken bells he once heard on the roof as a child. Awed, we asked the questions children ask. Did he run outside? Did he see them? Did he see him?? “I heard the reindeer leap off the roof, and that was enough,” he said. He kissed us each goodnight and left us to wonder. Was the story true? We quietly mused on the matter, shushing each other to listen at any perceived creak above our heads. Would this be the night we answered the question of whether the magic was real?

One Christmas Eve my father told us a story. Gathered on my brother’s bed, he whispered conspiratorially of stamping hooves and shaken bells he once heard on the roof as a child. Awed, we asked the questions children ask. Did he run outside? Did he see them? Did he see him??

“I heard the reindeer leap off the roof, and that was enough,” he said.

He kissed us each goodnight and left us to wonder. Was the story true? We quietly mused on the matter, shushing each other to listen at any perceived creak above our heads. Would this be the night we answered the question of whether the magic was real?

I listened vigilantly, so still and quiet that I lulled myself to sleep.

I don’t remember much about the presents I received the next morning, but I’ll never forget the feeling of wonder my fathered gifted us that evening. It’s a feeling I’ve always associated with the reindeer bell from my childhood copy of The Polar Express.

Like the bell, my father’s gift was one which tends to dull with age. To keep a shining sense of awe we must be willing to let go of the certainties of our experiences in order to embrace the wanderings of our imaginations.

Fortunately, I have a couple magical creatures of my own to help with the task. The excited jingling of their dog collars each morning are like reindeer bells reminding me to shrug off my worries and come fly with them. And fly they do! Over fences and over each other, trailing a touch of wonder with each leap.

Watching them fly this past week, in his red suit and hat, was Lincoln. He’s still too young to care about Santa or reindeer, but there is no age too young for wonder. And Lincoln, like all children, is wonder incarnate.

“Wow!” Link exclaimed when the dogs first soared above the sand. “Wow!” he yelled the second time. And the fifth, and the fifteenth. Each shout as enthusiastic and earnest as the first. I laughed at his relentless cheers, but they were infectious.

My first few attempts to join him were timid imitations, dampened by that pernicious impulse adults have to be above child-like feelings. But true wonder requires vulnerability. It is an admission of feelings and thoughts beyond our limited ability to articulate and understand them. To wonder means to lift our hearts and minds from their safe confines and offer them up to freely float amongst the stars.

With Link’s help and the dogs’ encouragement, I finally got the hang of it. Yelling “Wow!” with him and really meaning it. Laughing and marveling at the impossible magic of the universe converging in a moment which allowed me to be in this place, with this boy, these dogs, and so much love.

And if that impossible moment could happen, who am I to say what other impossibilities could not? That a team of flying reindeer might carry a sleigh across the sky seems no more preposterous than my luck to shout “Wow!” with my child at our dogs until we are both hoarse.

Eventually, the questions will come. Lincoln will ask about Santa and magic and impossible things. I used to worry about how to answer him. Or worse, what to say when he started googling the answers himself. But a couple of flying dogs helped remind me that so often in life, answers are not enough.

So I will tell him the truth. That on a cold winter morning I once held him in my arms at the beach, closed my eyes, and I could not be certain if the bells I heard above were from the dogs or reindeer. And at that moment I heard a boy shout “Wow!” and was certain something wonderfully impossible had happened.

As to what that all means? I’ll give Lincoln a kiss and leave him to wonder.

Merry Christmas!

Comments for The Most Wonderful Time

  1. Tiffanie Tagner says:

    WOW!!
    One again, Will, your insight and articulation is mesmerizing. Your words always make me pause, and give me some super-food for thought. And for this I am so grateful!
    Wishing you and your family a magical Christmas! Thank you for sharing your gifts with us.
    Warm Regards- the Tagners from NC. ❤️

  2. Wishing you and yours a wow-filled Merry Christmas. Fleas Navidog!

  3. My GBGV Life says:

    Merry Christmas to you and your family!

  4. Cupcake says:

    Wow is such a tiny word, but it says so much – whether it’s reindeer hooves, flying dogs, a plate of cookies, or sunshine. Wow puts you right there – in the moment and in the wonderment. Lovely post, as always. Have a wonder filled Christmas with a wow around every corner. xoxo

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake and Mom

  5. Shirley Andonie says:

    Merry Christmas and thank you for sharing your beautiful photos and wonderful stories!

  6. Will (MarkingOurTerritory.com) says:

    Well said! A little wow goes a long way

  7. Your post helps to bring back a faint whisper in my bell that went silent years ago. With grown children and no grand kids it’s sometimes ha s to experience nice that Christmas magic. But maybe I too can look to my three pups, especially Koda at 6 months, to regain some of the magic. Merry Christmas.

  8. Sharon Roerty says:

    Will, this is a story for the ages. Thank you.

  9. Anne Johnson says:

    Will, I so enjoy reading anything you write! There are so many blessings indeed that we share as families whom consider their dogs right up there with the kids, hence the name furbabies has become the norm. They simply make our lives better and have much to teach us. Your stories always show us that side and bring a smile and sometimes yet a tear, but the reader is definitely aware that their heart has grown a little each time. God Bless YOU, Emily, Link, Penny, and Zero, this Christmas holiday and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! ❤️

  10. Lovely story of Christmas for you and your family AND of Christmas past. I am not too old to still feel the magic of Christmas and find myself getting giddy and silly to this day, 71 years after my first Christmas. Keep that magic alive in your family Will – I have no doubt you, Emily, Lincoln and the dogs will do that. Always. Merry Christmas.

    Pam

  11. Kismet says:

    Yup, the Christmas spirit is for all ages. Now, if we could just get to the “Peace on Earth” thing.

  12. Lynn Wolford says:

    So very beautiful, Will. There truly IS nothing more magical than the wonder of Christmas. Have a very Merry Christmas!

  13. coastingnz says:

    Your skill at writing never ceases to amaze me Will. Beautiful post. Wishing you and your lovely family a very Merry Xmas and all good things and fun adventures for 2019. Hugs for hoomans and big Xmas snuggles for the “pups”.

  14. as always you made me cry!! Oh my Lincoln is ADORABLE, that Santa suit!!! Wonder is a beautiful thing and being as creative as you are, you are going to help Lincoln ALWAYS be full of wonder! In that last photo, he is just precious, his love of his woofies is shining through! Merry, Merry Christmas to all of you and have a blessed, happy healthy and safe New Year!! xoxo

  15. Jörg says:

    Wir wünschen euch eine wunderschöne Weihnachtszeit.
    Einen guten Rutsch ins Jahr 2019 und weiterhin viel Gesundheit.
    Ich freue mich schon auf die nächsten Abenteuer die du mit
    deiner Familie und den Hunden erlebst und ich wieder davon
    lesen kann.

    Merry Xmas and a happy New Year

  16. htgerman says:

    As always, your writing touches my heart and moves me to tears. Wishing you, your family and your two adorable goof balls a magical Xmas and New Year.

  17. Anne says:

    Beautifully articulated once again. I am a big believer in miracles and wonder and being in awe of it all.

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