For our December issue this year, we collected the Christmas wishes of residents, familiar to most of us,
representing every decade of life, lists which ultimately represent one of the many benefits of small town life. We include,
as an introduction, words from the past which might have constituted the Christmas list of Edwin and Nellie Teale:
“Coming home through the stillness of this silvered
night, with another year so near its end, we see our white cottage rising against the stars, flanked by the bare hickory trees,
set amid the snow-clad fields. Our conviction is certain. This is what we have always longed for – just such a house,
in just such a setting, seen in the midst of just such a life as we live at Trail Wood.”
Dear Santa,
It
is our Christmas wish that such contentment fills everyone’s lives, and that everyone feels blessed, through the beauty
of our town and the friendship of our neighbors, with the good fortune of discovering Hampton.
The Gazette
Dear
Santa,
I want a Smokey the Firetruck, a crane
and an ambulance. I want slippers for our cat Chloe and cat toys for Lucas. I want to play with my cousins. I
want to give hugs and kisses to my Grandma, Grandpa, Papa and Mema.
Henry Fontaine, 2007
Dear Santa, Anna, Elves,
and Reindeer,
I hope that your Christmas isn't
too busy this year. Did you get a lot of snow at the North Pole? I am going to leave some more reindeer food out for the reindeer.
I hope that they like it! I am also going to leave a surprise for you too! Does Anna ride in the sleigh with you on Christmas
Eve or not? If she does, the surprise is for both of you. How long does it take you to deliver all of the presents to the
boys and girls? Do you really put coal in the stockings when children aren't good?
I just have a few things on my wish list this year. They are: a Snoopy Snow Cone Maker,
any books that you find interesting (I would really like "Amber on the Mountain"), any dollhouse things, earrings
with goats on them, and anything fun!
I hope you have
a very fun 2012 and the rest of this year. Merry Christmas!!
Rachael Trowbridge, 2002
Dear Santa,
If I could have anything for Christmas, I would have NASA reopen the Space Shuttle program. I’d also like Rubix 2x2
Cube, Jurassic Park (the video game), and Mystery Science Theater’s Gamera movie.
Ian Lake, 1997
Dear Santa,
This year is my senior year of high school, and all I
want for Christmas is a car! I would like a black Volkswagen Jetta, and if it doesn’t fit under the tree, feel free
to park it in my garage. If for some reason you have any difficulty of getting me that car, I would also like the IPhone 4S.
Merry Christmas!
Sincerely,
Shaelyn Drake, 1994
Dear
Santa,
First of all, thank you for all the wonderful
gifts and smiles in Christmas' past. How is Mrs. Claus?
This year for Christmas one side of me would really like a full-year's worth of "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me"
and "Prairie Home Companion" on CD, or cassette tape, whichever is easier for you. I would also like the last Harry
Potter movie. I didn't get a chance to see it in theaters.
The other side of me, the not-so-interested-in-stuff side, would like something that, I realize, would be impossible to bring
in a sleigh. It's not that big, but it has eluded me so many times, Santa, I just can't seem to pin it down (it's
not Maria from "The Sound of Music"). Sometimes in the middle of the day, I have a chance to stop, to look around,
and an overwhelming sensation hits me right in the heart. My mind will not stop thinking! Perhaps it's impossible, Santa,
but I would like some rest this Christmas. Not rest from holiday woes or exam fears, but rest from my own buzzing thoughts.
Rest from the talking I do with myself. A pause from words that develop themselves in my mind. Rest from deep analysis and
looking at too much. Rest, so that I can finally hear, and feel, the silence.
I suppose this is an impossible request, and I thank you for trying. I look forward to a year of Garrison Keillor and laughs.
My best to the cold lands of the North!
Sincerely,
Mary
Johnson, 1989
Dear
Santa,
This is 2011, so this msg is via txt! As a
rep of Gen Y, i had 2 send u my latest scheme asap: Santa, have you thought about opening a workshop in Connecticut? The human
pop. officially passed 7 billion this year; that’s alotta teddy bears. There4, to meet demand I think you ought to set
up shop right here in C-T. U'll feel right at ho-ho-home. On top of helping u 2 reach your Toy Goals, the elves will feel
comfortable as we now have snow year ‘round, too. O! Ur reindeer will be in good company due to our own antlered friends.
The most compelling reason to expand to Connecticut, tho, is a town in the Northeast with the most lovely landing-strip of
a main street. @ one end of the hill sits a gray farmhouse and barn with a perfectly sized ‘hanger,’ if you will,
4 ur sleigh. I’m pretty sure they won’t care. I speak w high authority to say that they are very welcoming and
r great big fans of yours! lol. ne-way, txt back soon.
Listening 4 sleigh bells in the snow,
Elizabeth
Johnson, 1985
Dear Santa,
If I could ask for a Christmas wish, it would be for my friends and family to have a
healthy and happy holiday. And maybe a bucket truck for the town crew.
Toby Vertefueille, 1973
Dear Santa,
Christmas wishes are generally simple and full of hope,
and mine are always basically the same. I wish for my friends and family the blessings of health and happiness, and for those
loved ones facing challenges I wish them strength, healing, and perseverance. I wish for our children to enjoy being children,
to dream and anticipate the future with pure excitement for its possibilities, uninterrupted by worries and fears regarding
the condition of the world they’ll inherit. I wish for us all, from parents to political leaders, the perspective, foresight,
and courage to live and act in a way that will afford unfettered dreaming to many generations to come. Simple, hopeful.
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season,
Angela Hutchins, 1972
Dear Santa,
Could you bring me
a potion that I could spread about town that would have people smiling and waving a little more often? And if you bump into
your buddy Jack Frost in your travels, tell him we need a long sugaring season with lots of cold nights and warm days this
spring.
Your Best Behaved Fire Chief,
Rich Schenk, 1967
Ps. Give Mrs. Claus a smooch for me.
Dear Santa,
Last week I watched a program on Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity
regarding Space Time continuum, roughly defined as a three dimensional grid representing space and an additional fourth dimension
representing time which combine to form a single continuum. This single continuum would allow for lots of possibilities with
our traditionally rigid concept of time, that relentless ever ticking and frequently enslaving thing which there never seems
to be enough of, particularly during the holidays. What if it we were able to bend those rules or alter them entirely as proposed
in “The Time Machine” or “A Wrinkle in Time”? Oh, ho, ho, ho! The possibilities!
So, there it is, my wish. Time, or rather Space Time. The Incas called it ‘pacha’
so we know it isn’t a new idea. I picture our little town suspended on a flexible grid something like a trampoline,
or a parachute spread wide with the beneficent powers that be, surrounding and supporting us, creating small waves or wrinkles
ensuring that we all have ample time to accomplish the truly important things during the Christmas season that are often sadly
the very things that end up shelved with optimism for some other year yet to come. It is difficult, with work or school, decking
the halls, shopping, wrapping, special feasts to be prepared! A wrinkle for those people! Perhaps some have the opposite
problem and hang in limbo with so much time on their hands they are struck with inertia or sadness and could use a boost.
A wave for them to ride!
I hope we are all able
to find the ‘pacha’ in this wonderful town of ours to foster and appreciate the sense of belonging, comfort, and
caring this community has somehow always managed to provide. I feel blessed to have lived here so much of my life. I hope
we all miraculously find plenty of time to do the things that make our holidays special, whether that be baking cookies, visiting
with friends and family, enjoying a concert or community play, caroling, Church, or simply giving thanks. However, should
the magic seem to be in short supply, or the ‘pacha’ isn’t functioning properly, I have it on good authority
from a very dear friend that lists are often helpful, but if you really want a thing to happen -- schedule it!
Anne Curry, 1962
Dear
Santa,
Progress is finally mooooooving along here
at Woodhill Farm. As you may have heard, a few too many snowflakes brought our home to a tumble, leaving my mother and the
rest of the cows without a roof all winter and the mourning of close friends who perished in the accident. This coming holiday,
I know the other calves and I are hoping for better weather for not only Al’s sake, but also the rest of Hampton. I
couldn’t imagine if another tragedy happened to this small town again, so without hesitation, feel free to hog the snow
in the North Pole this year. Losing our home and friends during the holidays was definitely a wake up call, and put in perspective
the things that are important in life: friends, family, community, and a place to call home. It’s the people who sit
around the Christmas tree that matter most, not the boxes that lie beneath it. As mama cow always sings to me during the holidays,
“Ho ho hopefully
This holiday will make us believe
We're exactly where we're supposed to be
And we're ho ho hoping that we all come back.
And as a matter of fact
I know
we're exactly where we're supposed to be
Together
by this Christmas tree.”
I hope it is possible
that in your bag you’ll pack: love, a sense of community, respect, forgiveness, and lastly selflessness, and slide it
down the chimney of Hampton.
Sincerely,
Betsy Moo-Calf on behalf of Al Cahill, 1956
Dear Santa,
It has been a while since my last letter to you. Lucky for you since my “wish” list has changed
innumerable times over the years. Once the half century mark had been met I figured I had what I needed. And you know, I really
do. I have many friends, two and four legged, a great family, and good health. Regrets? We all have those!
But I do have some wishes. Basic stuff really. I would love to have us respect
all species sharing this planet and Earth itself. That’s it. Simply, if you could help us do that, I’d be super
grateful.
Hope you and the elves are well and that
the reindeer are happy. Take care and thanks -- oh, the milk and cookies will be still left for you,
Jo Freeman, 1952
Dear
Santa,
For Christmas I would like a housekeeper. I
have a very busy life and I love everything I do but I don't have time to wash the windows! There is a whole list
of things I'd like to do, like spend more time with my children and grandchildren, take a pottery class, work in the Library
but that won't leave me time to vacuum the house. I know I could give up some of the fun and interesting things
I do, but I'm not inclined to. I really do try very hard to keep up but the gardens and yard work are time sensitive
and need to come first. I need to help split and stack wood so dusting doesn't get done often. What? You
say it doesn't matter? Well, maybe so, but only up to a point -- then it does matter! So while I try out cooking
new recipes or while I'm at my job, do you think you could find someone to help keep my house in order -- and maybe wash
the kitchen floor?
Thanks Santa. Now I'm off to
make Brownies for tonight's committee meeting.
Susan Hochstetter, 1947
Dear Santa,
What I want for Christmas is a bicycle, just like the one I had that my mother
gave away (to one of Fred and Sylvia Curry’s boys) when I entered the army.
Randy Thompson, 1947
Dear Santa,
I would like to see the town of Hampton finally heal.
Whether you agree or disagree with your neighbor, you should realize that you are fortunate to enjoy the individual and the
debate. What I have learned in this life is that the people you know who are blessed with a healthy mind – appreciate
that. Circumstances have made me realize, if you want to have an argument, have an argument! That’s stimulating!
I know the town can’t be what it was; we all know
that. But maybe if even a little bit of it comes back. That’s what I would like.
Merry Christmas to everyone who has been so kind to me,
Jim Rodriguez, 1935
Dear
Santa,
When we are young we need many things, and
as we age we find ourselves trying to rid ourselves of "stuff". Our wants are for intangible things.
So what I wish for most is that Hamptonites find a way to get along with each other, listen to their neighbor's point
of view, and have compassion for one another. If one small town could do this, maybe there is hope for the world.
Oh yeah, I did think of one wish -- to have all the prepped
canvases I need at my fingertips.
Pat Donahue,
1933
Dear Santa,
I wish all of the members of my family a better year than they had last year. I wish that I will stay
well myself so I won’t be a problem for anyone. That’s what we wish for as we get older, health, and for the happiness
of our families.
Peggy Fox, 1928
Dear Santa,
What would
I like most of all for Christmas? A conversation with my father to shed light on many unanswered questions.
John Yanouzas, 1928
Dear
Santa,
I would like a nice day with all the members
of my family.
Pearl Scarpino, 1920
Dear Santa,
Do you know how many years it’s been since I asked for something for Christmas? Surprise me!
Vinnie Scarpino, 1914