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Not even Santa's magic can ward off flu
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Published: December 24, 2008
It figures in the year of less pay checks and more expensive everything, Santa would get sick. Santa: The man, the myth, the legend — down and out with the stomach flu.
My husband and I took the kids for the yearly anticipated trip that is "The Visit With Santa Claus."
We set it up beautifully — "Santa is visiting the Charlotte area this weekend, so if you want to see him, this is our chance," I announced. I never saw shoes fly on feet so fast.
We drove to the festive location, only to discover a "Closed" sign in front of the big green chair that should otherwise be holding the man in the big red suit. Upon making a few inquiries, I learned that indeed Santa was ill and wouldn't be making the scene.
I panicked, my brain scrambling for an explanation. It's not like Santa road-tripped from Atlanta to spend the day with us. I mean, he flew from the North Pole. This is the same man who flies around the world in a sleigh pulled by eight (or nine?) magical reindeer. And I'm supposed to say "Sorry, kids, but St. Nick's got a belly ache and won't be able to hear your wish list this year." One boy walked away sobbing in his mom's coat. The girls behind us, dressed in matching Christmas dresses, were stunned.
Thank goodness for my son's realistic personality, his memory of just having the same stomach virus, and for hot chocolate. My husband had purchased the luxury drinks, so the kids were already blissfully distracted by marshmallow-laced cocoa when word broke about Santa's sickness. Rather than embellish about reindeer needing care or an elf emergency back home, we went for the honest approach.
The St. Nick awe that every parent dreams of surfaced. "But he's magic, and if you're magic, you don't get sick," my son declared between slurps.
"Even Santa gets sick in spite of his magic," my husband said. He then reminded our son of how awful he had felt just days earlier when afflicted with the same virus. We all paused, remembering the symptoms, the loads of bed linen laundry, the cabin fever. Yes, we concluded, even magic couldn't beat that wretched ailment.
But we all believe in Santa, and knew he would rebound for his Christmas Eve visit. But I decided I would leave some Pepto by the plate of cookies, just in case he relapses.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
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