Dear Santa (a bonus post)

You can skip me this year

Photo by Irena Carpaccio on Unsplash

I remember when I was little writing letters to Santa and asking for the things I’d seen in the Sears or JC Penney catalog. I often asked him to bring something for my little brother, too. My parents would write a note back, signing it with a flourish, and leave it on the plate with the cookie crumbs next to the half-finished glass of milk by the fireplace. I remember one time they wrote Santa’s note on aluminum foil, the handwriting pressed into the shine. It felt extra fancy and I was enthralled at the notion Santa took the time to answer me personally.

Both my parents came from poor families, especially my father. His family were migrant farm workers, and they lived in camps with outhouses throughout the harvest season. When they went back to Mexico, they often lived in shanties next to a river. As an adult, my father saved money from every paycheck all year and was determined that we would get every single thing on our lists.

If I were to write Santa this year, I’d let him know he could skip my house. I’ve already gotten everything I could ask for and more.

When I finished my first novel, Bread Pudding in Barcelona, I couldn’t bring myself to publish. My good friend (and self-appointed butt kicker) Alison Cooper challenged me to pick a date and just get it out there. She refused to let me dither, and I randomly picked May 4^th. I don’t know if the book would even be out now if she hadn’t pushed me and, more importantly, believed in me.

I hired an incredibly talented graphic designer to create my cover. When she sent me the file in March, I burst into tears. After a year of working so hard on this book, I was keen (and nervous) to find someone to create beautiful artwork. Samantha Sanderson-Marshall truly got it. She read and loved the book, and the cover showed it. She’s now working on book 2 of the Blooming series (Something Will Sing to Your Heart, out in 2025) and I am insanely grateful for her talent, generosity, and just general amazingness.

In March, when I was training for my 8^th degree black belt alone on a mat in my kitchen or on Zoom with friends in California, Sandy Hughes, my long time training partner in Tennessee, invited me to come out and train with her for the weekend. Our friend and excellent instructor David Burke flew out from California to work with us. Their kindness got me through that difficult test.

In April, while visiting my lifelong best friend Cathie Fincannon and her family, Ted Sheppe proposed to me in front of my family. Learning that he’d first gotten the blessing of those I love made the day even more special.

In May, my dear friend Leigh Busby joined Alison and flew out from Austin to help me launch my book. We spent a fun night in St. Augustine (the site for the final scene in the book) having dinner and wandering around the village. Their endless support made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I could actually pull off this author thing. On the day of the launch, my beyond generous friend Moni Liche came with her husband from Boston to support me!

The morning of the launch, Moni, Alison, Leigh, and I were setting up at Get Lit Boutique, an absolutely charming shop owned by the endlessly generous Jenny Sanza. She’d never done a book launch at her store before, but her faith in me and her kindness made the day extra special. My then-fiancé arrived at the launch and had a surprise for me in his car: Cathie had flown out from Austin to be with me on my special day! The two of them had conspired for weeks to surprise and bless me and I was overwhelmed by their love. While the others talked to customers about the novel, Moni used her brilliant experience as an HR professional to interview me, making sure we had a fun Facebook Live session for those who couldn’t be in Florida. That night, we all went to dinner and to see my husband perform in our community theatre. What fun! Between my friends, old and new, the launch was wonderful.

Two days later, I left Florida for a week at the Writing in the Cevennes writers’ retreat, a fabulous time to hang out with my dear friend and mentor Diane Osgood and other writers, some of whom I’d met in person but others I’d only known via Zoom calls. We spent our time in a little village in the south of France, writing, resting, sharing, and sightseeing. It was bliss.

In June, I went through the grueling five-day black belt test in California. It was much different from my last test eight years ago, but I made it and earned my eighth stripe. I’m so grateful for my California training partner Carla Gizzi who spent hours with me before the test making sure I was ready. After the test, we spent three days in Pebble Beach where I was able to recuperate and enjoy my home state with my beloved.

In July, I had a book signing event at Novel Tea Book Shop, a charming independent, woman-owned store in Ormond Beach. Owner Stephanie Gonter is a huge supporter of local authors and made me feel welcome and special. I now attend the Writers’ Haven, a monthly group for authors at her store where I’ve met several other local writers. Her generosity is phenomenal.

August was a flurry of wedding planning, hiring the company to set up the beautiful arch and chairs for our beach ceremony, the caterer, the florist, the cake maestro, and the furniture rental for the reception at my daughter’s house. It was fun and everyone was lovely to work with. Alison hosted a book reading/book signing event at her house, so I flew to Austin for yet another great weekend with friends and books!

In September, I exhibited at the Boozy Book Fair at the Ormond Brewing Company in Ormond Beach. It was 92 degrees while we set up—and two hours later we were tearing down in a torrential downpour and tornado warning. I did sell ten books that day. A week later, I turned 63. I’m still laughing about that. How did that happen?

In October, we were excited about our wedding. Dear friends from my three different weekly writing groups sent us cash toward the honeymoon and a deliciously decadent gift certificate for my favorite spa in Barcelona. We couldn’t wait for the wedding! That excitement, however, soon turned to dread as Milton evolved from a mild mannered tropical storm into a Category 5 hurricane. Out of state friends and family’s flights were cancelled, the weather got worse, and by Wednesday before the Saturday event, we had to cancel everything. And yet we still got married, standing by the pool in my daughter’s backyard, where Ted and I exchanged our vows before our dear friend and officiant Dwayne Gray, his wife Lynette, and three out of four of my kids. But we had a full house of dear ones who joined on Zoom. I’m profoundly grateful for the love everyone showed us as the event unraveled.

The next day, we left for six days in Barcelona, which couldn’t have been more perfect. The flights, the hotel, and the daily special events went off flawlessly. I even got to introduce my new husband to my dear writing friend and inspiration, Elles Poiesz, who graciously took us out for breakfast to celebrate.

On the 30^th, we had take two for the rained out September event, now titled the BOOzy Book Fair. The weather was perfect and the event was a joy.

November was a blur, with getting back to work and preparing for Thanksgiving—which ended up being an ultra-quiet affair with just the two of us. While I do love a full house of raucous kids and grandkids, it was a sweet time to share alone.

This month has been more of the same. I’ve met some amazing women who own independent bookstores and they are carrying my novel! I have one event scheduled already for 2025 and am in planning for two others. Meeting the owners of The New Romantics in Orlando and Needful Books and Things and Gypsy’s Book Nook in St. Augustine has reinvigorated my dream to be a full time author. It’s the very best of independent entrepreneurs supporting and encouraging each other.

At long last, we come to my letter to Santa.

Dear Santa,

Thank you for all the wonderful years you brought me gifts. This year, however, you can skip my house since I’ve received more than my share of presents already. From January until now, I’ve been showered with love, generosity, and blessings—more people than I can count have poured grace and kindness into my life. It seems that every month has brought something new to treasure.

I know there will be hard times to come—life has a way of upending even the happiest of times. But today I am content to simply sit in gratitude, praying that I can also be a blessing to someone else and the reason you don’t need to stop at their house, either.

Safe travels, old friend, and Merry Christmas.

Cindy