Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Opal “Grandma” Habisch Column 12/14/98



When I was a little girl, I asked my mother, “What
does Santa look like?”

Mother said, “He looks like Grandpa. His hair is long
and white and he looks like he eats a lot. He likes boys and girls and he
smiles all the time, just like Grandpa does.”

That night, when Daddy came in for supper, Mother said,
“Tomorrow, Santa Claus will be visiting our town to find out what the
children want for Christmas. Can we go to town to see Santa?”

“Please, daddy, please?” I begged.

Daddy said, “All right, but we can’t stay too long.”

I was so excited, I could hardly sleep that night.

The next day, Grandpa said he wanted to come along with
us to see Santa. So we all got into the car and went to town.

When we got there, Daddy said, “We will have to park
the car and walk. All of the good parking is gone.”

I was the first one out of the car. As we came closer,
I saw reindeer and lots of children crowded around a sled.

And then, I said to Mother, “Is that Santa?”

She said, “Yes.”

I just stood and stared at him. Then I walked around him.
He looked exactly like my grandpa.

I went up to him and asked him if he had a brother.

He said, “Yes.”

I knew it.

Santa asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I said,
“A red suit just like yours.”

“Now, why do you want a red suit like mine?”
Santa asked.

“For my grandpa,” I told him.

Santa said, “I don’t think he wants one.”

But I said, “Well, let’s ask him.”

I took him over to my grandpa and they shook hands.

“My, your grandpa looks just like me,” Santa
said. “But don’t you want a doll for Christmas?”

“Yes,” I said, “but I want a red suit more.
You see, my grandpa can wear the suit and then I will have Santa with me
all the time.”

Grandpa and Santa laughed and laughed.

My dad said, “Well, Grandpa, when you get your red
suit, I guess we’ll have to start calling you Santa.”

And that is exactly what we did.

Maybe you have a grandpa who looks like Santa, too.

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