SECOND STAGE
When Christmas 2018 came around, I began to reflect on my over-the-top Christmases as a kid. Santa Claus was always extremely good to me. My siblings would come over yearly to see what Santa had brought me and always left in amazement. All I ever heard growing up was, “We never got that much stuff from Santa when we were kids!” I never knew what to say.
The year was 1970. I was nine years old. It was Christmas time once again, and Santa had come and left. I woke up early on Christmas morning and ran into the living room to see what Santa had brought me. I always went for the Maraschino Chocolate-Covered Cherries first. I ate the cherries as I unwrapped all of my toys.
Santa brought one gift that particular year that puzzled the shit out of me. I can still remember it to this day. It was a 45-rpm record of Knock Three Times by Tony Orlando and Dawn. I remember playing the record on my record player with this very puzzled look on my face. I listened to the song several times but had no idea why Santa had left it for me.
I remember saying something to my mother about it, and all she did was smile and say, “Play it for me! I like that song!”
And so I played it over and over again.
Fast-forward 48 years, and the song finally makes sense. It wasn’t intended for me. It was designed for my mother, and the record and most of my childhood toys were gifts from Santa Ray.
If you look out your window tonight
Pull in the string with the note that’s attached to my heart
Read how many times I saw you
How in my silence I adored you
Only in my dreams did that wall between us come apart
Out of all the toys I received as a kid, this is the one I remember the most.