When Em was in about 3rd or 4th grade she asked me very intently about whether or not there was a REAL Santa. I told her that there was DEFINITELY a spirit of Santa that involved giving to others. She asked who filled the stockings. I said I did in the spirit of Christmas. From that point on she wanted to help. Every Christmas Eve we would fill all the stockings. She made sure we went shopping for the right things to put in the stockings-toothbrushes, the right candy, BIG oranges, socks, and little gifts. We took a great deal of care picking out specific things for everyone’s stockings. She helped me fill them and hang them. I miss her so much. We did not have stockings this year. I just could not do it. I miss my helper. I miss my Em.