Reindeers Don't Have Paws - A Christmas Story

In this, my 40th year of life, I learned that the lyric is actually "up on the housetop reindeer pause," and not "up on the housetop reindeer paws," as I have been singing it my entire life.  I guess I thought you could hear the reindeer's little feet pitter-pattering on the roof as they land, you know?  And so that's how you knew Santa had arrived right along with the sleighbells.  

BUT!  It seems so obvious to me now.  Like, for one thing:  Reindeer don't have paws.  And for another:  The reindeer are pausing to let Santa out so he can do his thing with the chimney and the toys.  This adds up.

Matt's mom mentioned this as a misheard lyric from Up on the Housetop during her childhood. She said that as a kid she had never seen it written down, so that's what she thought, which made Matt and I both say, "Wait a second...it is pause!?!? Not paws!?!"    Hmmmm!!  Who knew!?!?  Not us!

It is so funny to me.  Just think about the words, the storyline, and what you are saying for a second, Beth.  It has come to my attention (via post-concert conversations with my friends) that I just sing along with...whatever I think the words are...even if I am just wildly off base sometimes.  "Hey by the way," when it is "Hey Pockey Way."  "Dig a hole in the middle," versus "dig a hole in the meadow."  Or "live long and love life," when  it is actually, "limbo in Lovelock."  

Anyways.  I have run this reindeer paws thing by A LOT of people since then.  Basically, if we have spoken since December 8th I have brought it up.  As it turns out, Matt and I are in good company!  Lots of people say paws!  Young people, old people, smart people, men, and women!  Even a certain English teacher I know!  ;)  This was some relief to me.  

So then, because I think it is so funny, I felt inspired to make some festive holiday postcards.  Two so far, but I suspect there will be more.  The first draft was the full roof scene, but there wasn't enough emphasis on the paws.  They were too small.  My second close-up version turned out just as I envisioned and made me cackle with glee.  Literally.  They are both so weird (and wonderful).

Merry Christmas!!