A Very Helmetta Christmas...

Helmetta is a small town - population of 2,008, which is about 400 people more than the student body at the high school where I teach. But with a small town comes charming holiday traditions... like this one:

The weekend before Christmas, "Santa" comes to town...  police cars drive around the neighborhoods blasting Christmas music out of their bullhorn speakers to alert the neighborhood kids that the firetruck carrying Santa is not far behind. Like the siren song of an ice cream truck, kids hear the music and come running out of their homes to greet their hero in red, who gives them all a little present. It's a sweet iconic touch to a holiday otherwise filled with Black Friday and Super Saturday consumerism.

At our home, our Christmas tree is up and our penguin wreath on the door... Christmas break can't come soon enough.