12/25/2024
2024 Santa Story #25
One of the big blessings for Santa is to hear stories about people’s families and their traditions. They are often eager to share. And, every once in a while, Santa hears a story that makes him a bit teary.
This year, Santa heard a beautiful story about a woman named, Katy. Katy was born on 12/25/25. She celebrates her 99th birthday this Christmas. Katy’s granddaughter told me a story about her on a recent visit.
When Katy was a much younger lady, her and her husband didn’t have much money. But, she started collecting a china set in order to entertain her family each year—Lennox china with a holly berry pattern.
Over the years, she would buy one or two pieces at a time to add to her special collection. Her husband, Bill would often find a new piece and surprise her with it in order to see that smile he cherished. Over the years, Katy’s collection grew to 16 pieces!
Quite a few years ago—in the late 80’s—Katy’s husband Bill passed. Eventually, she couldn’t drive or live alone anymore. The family moved Katy into a wonderful retirement home. Now living in a smaller space, many of Katy’s belongings were packed and stored in her daughter’s attic . . . including the china.
Katy used to be the family entertainer. Katy’s granddaughter told me she has wonderful memories of sitting around her grandmother’s table that had been proudly set with the beautiful china.
Recently, Katy told her granddaughter, “Oh, honey. I remember taking out my Christmas china and setting my table every year and thinking, ‘No one has a prettier table than this for their family.’” Katy had matching place cards for her china and each year, she would handwrite everyone’s names for the celebration.
Katy’s granddaughter jokingly told me, “Each year I host, I just use my cheap dishes from HomeGoods.” Santa got a laugh out of that one. Katy’s granddaughter is a wonderful lady. The way she beamed when she told me Katy’s story made me think, “This is exactly how every grandparent (and human) wants to be loved.”
Katy, a woman who loves tradition, has worn the same Christmas sweater every year for 40 years for her birthday/Christmas celebration. Her red (favorite color) sweater is always adorned with a gold Christmas Tree brooch. She’ll be wearing that sweater today when she sits down for a memorable dinner.
This Christmas, on Katy’s birthday, the celebration is at Katy’s granddaughter’s home. But, there is a special surprise awaiting her. Katy’s granddaughter found the china in the attic. She will wash it all up and set the table with it—without Katy seeing it until it’s time to sit down for dinner. Including a place card that says, “Katy” that is still marked with her own handwriting.
Katy, who was born when Calvin Coolidge was the 30th president will sit at a table this year with her 3 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren and eat off a collection of china, that was slowly built together as a young couple with not a lot of extra money to spend.
Happy birthday, Katy!
Santa wishes for all of you the same kind of sacrificial love, abundant life, devotion, kindness, and wonder that Katy and her family are enjoying this season. May we all be memory collectors like Katy—whose most prized collection is a beautiful story.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Photo: Actual Photo of the China sent to me by Katy's Granddaughter.