I've started a pick-up summer semester at UNLV before the big move out of Sin City. I'm taking art just for the hell of it... 3 credits . While the class had some down time I struck up some conversation with the girl next to me. One topic led to another (mostly her talking about her Mormon family and six siblings and making a lame attempt to convert me) and we ended up on the subject of ridiculous gifts we had received over past Christmas's. She then proceeded to tell me about the strange gifts that "Santa" had given her over the years. I thought she was being facetious and I made a snide comment back about "Santa's" existence thinking that this was just some little joke we had going and that we could move on with our conversation. She then paused and asked me if I believed in the jolly man in the red jumpsuit. Of course I said no, hesitantly, thinking she was pulling one over me. But instead of the punch line I was expecting, she gave this puzzled look and then began to go on about her family's Christmas rituals involving Saint Nick. I knew she was serious as she kept referring to the guy as if she knew him in person.
To say the least, it was one of the most awkward conversations I have ever had. I really didn't know how to respond to this. What the hell kind of sheltered life did this girl live and shame on her parents for letting her go in public.
....oh, she's also 21.