The “Hickory Daily Record” invited me to share thoughts on my “favorite Christmas.” This piece appeared on Dec. 25. For me it was the year of Patti Playpal, the doll Santa brought when I was in kindergarten. 1959 was probably the last Christmas I fully believed in Santa Claus—reindeer on the roof, jingling sleigh bells and all. Somehow Santa had …
My Patti Playpal Christmas
TBT. “Throw Back Thursday” in Facebook language. This past week, I threw myself back to 1960. There in a black-and-white snapshot is my five-year-old self and Patti Playpal, the life-sized doll Santa brought. I remember seeing her for the first time beside our tinsel-draped tree on Christmas morning. In the snapshot I’m standing at the back door in my navy blue …