Yes, Virginia,There Is . . .

/ roughwighting

bus stop, missing a bus, Christmas storyGinny was worried. Not about just one thing, like the fact that her paycheck would not be enough to pay all the bills this month. She was not worried about just two things, like the rumor that her ex was in town.

No, Ginny was worried about more than a dozen things as she rode the bus from her gray non-descript apartment building in the center of the city toward the more glamorous, clean, shiny suburb 40 minutes away.

As she tried to release her concerns about the electricity bill and the rent, she turned her thoughts to her boss, an arrogant, no-nonsense woman who expected Ginny to not only organize the household, make meals, get her boss’ teenagers on the shuttle that whisked them off to their private school (ironically located in the city Ginny wished she could escape from), but also to clean the six bedroom, seven bathroom mansion from top to bottom.

What was it like to expect someone else to clean your toilets and your refrigerator, Ginny mused as the gritty city streets faded into tree-lined avenues. As the bus zoomed along, the city’s threatening gloomy clouds dissipated and the sun shone on the expansive lawns.

How’d this neighborhood manage that? Ginny wondered, noting how everything around her glowed.

Wait. Where was this bus taking her? Ginny didn’t recognize the neighborhood. She raced up the aisle to the bus driver. “Where’s my stop?” she asked, her voice shrill.

“What stop?” the grizzled driver asked, unconcerned.

“Lamont Street!”

He scoffed. “We passed Lamont 40 minutes ago.”

Ginny’s head spun and she struggled to stand up. “Let me off!” she demanded, adding in a whisper. “What now?”

The bus door opened as the unhelpful driver suggested, “Find what you’re looking for. I’ll be back here in seven hours if you’re still searching.”

Ginny stood alone at the bus stop. Acres of azure sky stretched in front of her. A long low stone wall seemed to go on for miles. Where was she? What should she do?

Ginny began to walk, her purse pressed tightly to her stomach.

But then she heard a single chime, as clear as a fairy bell. Another chime dinged louder, more insistent, and Ginny realized it came from a bicycle-built-for-two that glided down the street toward her. A white-haired, white-bearded elderly man pedaled the bike from the front seat; the back seat was empty.

“Hop on,” the rotund gentleman said.

Ginny’s eyes widened. The man wore red velvet pants, jacket and fur-lined hat. His eyes crinkled, and he beamed at Ginny as if she was the most special, incredible person on Earth.

“Yes,” the bicyclist continued, “I’ve been waiting for you. Your day – your life – is about to change in the most marvelous ways – 

 Ho Ho HO!”

Ginny hopped on.

Christmas tree, Santa story

From my home to yours – may your holidays be filled with wondrous surprises and your NEW YEAR  begin bright with promise and possibilities. 

124 thoughts on “Yes, Virginia,There Is . . .”

  4. I look forward to Friday morning so I can read your blog. Santa Claus comes in many ways though out the year! But he only wears his red velvet suit at Christmas. You have a gift for writing Pam! Merry Christmas!

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  9. I have a feeling you are the reason Christmas in your house is probably so magical. I loved the story–I wish you and yours a blessed and joyous Christmas and a happy, healthy, and surprise-filled (good surprises!) new year.

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    • Welll, I certainly do enjoy finding the magic in the little corners of life, like the first taste of a Christmas cookie, the first kiss of the day, the first sip of hot green tea, the first hug from a grandchild, the first brisk walk in the morning. You get my gist. I wish you delightful firsts in everything you do in 2019, Amy. ❤

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    • Thank you for your words of delight, Marian. Life can drag us down if we forget that wonder exists around every corner – we just need to keep our eyes and heart open to it! 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and yours, my friend.

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  13. Loved this sweet story!!! My dear friend, Ginny-Gin (Virginia) died 7 years ago.
    Oh she loved Christmas and would have loved this wonderfully, imaginative story!
    Thanks, Pam, for reminding me of my lovely friend! Hmmm…wonder how they spend Christmas in heaven??? ❤️🎄☃️

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    • I’m allowing everyone to use their own magical imagination to place Ginny just where she wants to be. One reader suggests that Ginny ends up in Venice, Italy. (Which happens to be that reader’s favorite place in the world.) I wonder where YOU’D like Ginny to enjoy the rest of her life with love and joy?

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      • Well, I’m of a somewhat offbeat mindset (remember Not CM, my alter-ego?). I’d probably have Ginny go through many unexpected struggles before finally finding contentment – most likely right where she started off (there’s no place like home).

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    • When a writer’s words touches the heart of her reader, she feels complete. Thanks, Patricia, for “feeling” this story of Ginny and how she finds magic within her life. To the secret Santas around every corner! ❤

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  31. I love the photo of the tree with the lights looking so whimsical and quite magical. Maybe Ginny is about to have a transformational moment on the back of Santa’s bicycle built for two. Merry Christmas to you and yours, Pam and my the magic stay the year through.

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    • It wasn’t until I took this photo of our Christmas tree when I realized that the reflection from the glass window doubled the light, and the joy. May our own reflections do the same to all around us throughout the year. MERRY CHRISTMAS! ❤

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  39. What a wonderful Christmas present for Her. Do you think she’ll end up in Venice Italy? After all, it is Santa she’s riding with!

    Merry Christmas and happy new year Pam

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  45. As is often the case here I sit in the edge of my seat wondering what will happen next! A beautifully told tale with the promise of Christmas wishes coming true. Here’s hoping there is a. Including chapter!

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  46. Really like how you wrote this story, Pam. Ginny sounds like the everyday person working hard for a living, an everyday person with dreams for a better job and better life. Love the little bit of make-belief at the end there and Ginny got home in a jiffy in the end 😀 Hope you are enjoying this time of the year and best wishes for the year ahead 🙂

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  48. What a lovely Christmas story… sorry I didn’t read it before today. Life and the holidays have almost taken their toll. But today my hubby decided to take an impromptu trip into the city (Dallas) to see his sister and our niece with her 2 babies. He will spend the night and some much needed time with his sis. They used to do that all the time and it has been a while. I am home with the fur babies for some much needed alone time, catching up on emails, eating bad popcorn and drinking pop . All the things I can’t do after Tuesday! LOL! I loath New Year’s resolutions but hubby and I will go on a much needed diet. I lost over 40# last year on an awesome program which I will do again to lose the 10# or so I have found again because I have been bad. HE will lose the additional 30 or so he still needs to drop on the same program which he did not do with me before. His goal is to be at ideal weight before 60th birthday in March. He can do it with my help….. Happy New Year Pamela! I hope Santa treated you well! ❤

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  51. Pam, I’m a bit late for your post but still in Christmas spirit and your story is lovely and magical. I want to cheer for Ginny and the adventures awaiting her!

    Your tree is astonishing, Pam … beautifully decorated and so sparkly.

    Hope you had a wondrous Christmas, Pam and wishing you peace,light, joy and laughter in the new year. Hugs, my friend! Xx ❤️

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