Alright- even though no one commented...here goes. When I was 8 years old, in 1970; my mother and father were fighting...a lot. My father was not around and had left my mom for a younger woman...but that is not the important part. Christmas Eve came and we had a tree- with decorations and I was looking forward to Santa's arrival. That evening, my father showed up and got into a huge fight with my mother and threw our tree out the back door into the yard- lights and all. At that time, my father was drinking and he was mad that we even had a tree. My mother was trying to do the best she could. I remember that the tree was laying in our back yard- and that I was told to go back to bed. I also remember that there was a terrible storm- with rain all night and that our tree and my few gifts were getting soaked. I went back to sleep, crying, wondering how Santa would leave gifts with no tree. When I woke up, on Christmas morning, there was a beautiful tree, with lights, and decorations; and there were gifts. There were lots of gifts. I still remember receiving a Kodak camera with a flash cube and film and batteries. I also remember getting basketball cards in my stocking- I think there were around 10 packs of them. I think that is the year I got the Hot Wheels "snake and mongoose" tracks set that I still have to this day. I also think that is the year I got an "NFL electric football game" that I still have- in the box- today. Now- here is where I believe in Santa. My mother was crying in the morning...she swears she had nothing to do with it. My father was too drunk to have made it right. My mom thinks that MAYBE, just MAYBE...the San Carlos, CA. police department came back and made my Christmas. I don't believe any of that. I KNOW it was Santa. I KNEW it then and I KNOW it now. So, yes...there is a Santa Claus!!! He may not bring you everything you ask for, every single year...he may not be the person you think he is...but there is a Santa Claus...I guarantee you- there really is a Santa. I thank the Lord every day that there is. I teach my children that he is real. If you keep believing...and you keep him in your heart...he will be there for you when you really need him. Please, never stop believing in Santa Claus...he believes in you...