Pole Barn Santa

The year our cabin neighbor saved Christmas

- Christy Heitger-Ewing

When my son Kyler was tiny, he was fascinated with every aspect of garage door operation. So, the first time he laid eyes on our cabin neighbor’s pole barn, he went nuts.

Though he was just learning to talk, Kyler pointed at the door of the pole barn, looked at Mr. Ratterree with stars in his eyes, and exclaimed, “Mee-raa-ree! Gauge dwar!”

From that day forward, Jim, who was 80 at the time, became one of Kyler’s all time favorite people. They walked hand in-hand to the lake and the tool shed. They zipped back and forth in Jim’s tractor, Kyler bouncing giddily on Mr. Ratteree’s lap. They were boating buddies, fishing friends and card-playing pals. These traditions continued every summer for five years straight.

When Kyler was 7, he announced one September, “I know what I want Santa to bring me this year.”