Stories from Santa

This page is dedicated to the children and adults that let Santa into their hearts and let the spirit of Christmas warm them. The Notes on this page are a way for me to share with you just a small portion of the love for Santa and Christmas that I receive on a daily basis. Please enjoy.

A Special Christmas Eve Visit

One way I love to close out the season is by making visits on Christmas Eve to special boys and girls. My arrival at the home is usually marked by making a big deal out the entrance.  But, when the children hear that hearty HO HO HO and see me in their home - the evening turns magic. 

We, (the children and I) typically have a bit small talk about how much they've grown since last year and how beautiful the tree is this year.  I give them official "Nice List" certificates personalized with their names and signed by me and Mortimer, the head elf. Rudolph even stamps it with his hoof print. 

I pull out an autographed copy of "The Night Before Christmas" to read and to leave with the children.  We spend time getting photos and talking about being in bed when I come back around and just as quick as I came in, I exit leaving behind priceless smiles and memories that will last a lifetime. 

I recently saw a dad from one of last year's Christmas Eve visits and he told me the kids watch the video often and talk about it as if it just happened last week. I'm not sure whose smile is bigger remembering that special visit - mine, his or the kids! 

A Random Moment of Joy

I went into a hobby store the other day to pick up a few Christmas items to prepare for a visit this weekend.  I went through the store did my shopping and made it out without too much disruption.

As I was walking out, I made eye contact with a woman going into the store. She didn't break her stride, but took one look at me and burst out laughing.

I looked at her, smiled and wished her a Merry Christmas and then added, “ and that’s why I do what I do.”  It’s a good feeling when you can bring a random moment of joy into someone’s day.    

Open Season on Santa

For the last several years on the second Thursday of December I have been invited by the Decatur Main Street Group of merchants to walk the square.  Downtown Decatur has a classic courthouse with merchants on all four sides.

Walking the square is an easy walk and its fun to see the people's faces as they drive through town.   Decatur is a small town and it's not unusual for a car to stop in the middle of the street, roll down the windows and do a drive by photo of Santa.  

There are times when I'll walk up to the car and greet the children inside.  These walk up and greets can sometimes lead to a small traffic jam and Santa then gets to direct traffic. This past Thursday I had an SUV pull up and roll down the window and a woman with a very curious look on her face asked, "Are you lost or do you need any help?"  I laughed with a good Ho Ho Ho and told her that I just flew in and thought I'd stop and say hello to my friends in Decatur.  

Turns out that she was not from Decatur, but passing through.  She wanted to get a photo of me, but as mentioned before long we had started to block traffic.  I suggested that she pull into a parking space and we could get the photo. It was like a scene from a movie.  

All the doors on the SUV flew open at the same time and four women all armed with cameras came over the get their photo with Santa. And that's when one of them said, "This is like open season on Santa."  

Santa has an Invisible Force Field

It’s not unusual for the younger ones to shy away from Santa, it's just part of being Santa and most of the time it can be overcome with a smile and a little understanding from Santa. And then sometimes the timing is just not right. 

Tonight I was with a group that had a large population of younger ones.  After we had our traditional time of photos with Santa at the Christmas Tree and there were several kids that didn't want to have anything to do with Santa.

I got up and did a walk around visit with the children.  Lots of questions about reindeer, sleighs and elves.  I spotted a group of the resistant ones sitting on the floor and thought I’d give it one more try to gain their confidence.  As I moved over to the group it was as if I had some kind of invisible force field around me, I knelt down and in unison, as if they were linked together, they moved back about a foot and a few of them started to tune up with a cry. Some days even the magic of Santa can’t penetrate the fear of a two year old.

A special thank you to this group from Santa, this was our second year with this group and when they called to book with us, the date that they needed was already booked. So, they changed the date of their party to assure that we would be available.  We're very grateful that we didn't have to miss a visit with this special group of public servants! Thanks again from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Santa and Mrs. Claus Visit a Special Boy Scout Troop

Tonight we visited a special needs Boy Scout Troop.  Visits like this are really about the spirit of giving and sharing.  These boys were so excited to see Santa and Mrs. Claus, the boys are full of hugs and love and ask nothing in return. 

Santa thought he had echo when he came in and greeted everyone with a typical HO HO HO.  One young man must have been practicing his HO HO HO for a very long time.  Every time Santa let loose his HO HO HO this young man would come back with his HO HO HO that sounded just like Santa’s.  I do believe that this young man has a bright future sharing the spirit of Santa.

Santa gets a Free Lunch

As Santa I’m used to being given lots of cookies, sweets and the occasional hot chocolate.  Mrs. Claus and I were out doing some shopping on Saturday and decided to stop and grab a quick lunch before starting our evening of events.

The standing joke between Mrs. Claus and I is “What restaurant do we want to disrupt business in today.” You see this time of year I typically go out in public dressed in a variety of ways that insures lots of attention (bright red shirts and a variety of Santa style hats).

This particular afternoon we went to a local Mexican Food restaurant and had several encounters with children and adults that comes with the territory. Our waiter came back to the table to chat about me being Santa and asked if I would mind if he took a photo with me.  I said sure and guided him over to the Christmas Tree in the lobby instead of at the table.  As he was setting up his camera for a friend to take the picture his identical twin brother, who is also a waiter, showed up and wanted to get in on the photo.  At that point I chimed in and said, “Sure, but you guys are going to have to sit on my knees.”  That caused a lot of egging on by their coworkers and when all was said and done we got the photo and entertained the staff and customers quite well. 

I still hadn't gotten the bill for the lunch and when Mrs. Claus and I went to the register to check out the waiters and the manager had decided to pick up the tab because of all the excitement we had caused.  You just never know how the Spirit of Christmas will show itself.

Santa Breathes a Sigh of Relief

Tonight was the annual Christmas Parade of Lights in Decatur.  As part of the festivities Santa spends some time at the Courthouse so that the children can sit on his lap while the parents take photos.  This year the plan was to have Santa spend about an hour and a half at the Courthouse and then leave to prepare for the parade. 

Just as we were nearing the time for me to depart and I had had about 70-80 children sit on my lap, out of the corner of my eye I spotted about 30 more kids in Santa hats rounding the corner and heading my way. I wasn't wearing a watch but I knew that there was no way I could sit with that many kids and make to the parade setup area in time. 

As all of these thoughts were going though my mind and a bit a panic had started to set in, they all kept walking past me and started setting up for Christmas Carols. You see they were a local school choir and that’s when Santa breathed a sigh of relief.

The Case of the Santa Stalker

Yesterday, Mrs. Claus and I were in a store rounding up a few more decorations (Mrs. Claus says a house can never have too many decorations).  I very rarely go with her to this particular store, but for some reason, today I wanted to be a part of picking out more stuff.  

We kept running into this one young woman and I noticed that she was watching me very closely (not unusual this time of year). Even though this is a small store, this young woman seemed intent on "running" in to us.  On our third "accidental" meeting, she finally approached me and I assumed that she wanted a quick photo from her cell phone (happens all the time).  

She asked, "Are you...do you...are you Santa?"  and I replied, "Yes I am" and she proceeded to tell me about how she had been trying to find a Santa to visit her 2 yr. old son for his birthday party that afternoon and as fortune would have it she lived a few blocks from the parade that Santa was in that night. 

So, Santa made a visit before the parade to a house full of surprised party revelers. During the party, her husband told us that she was following us around the store trying to work up enough nerve to ask a favor of someone that just looked like Santa.  

Mrs. Claus told the husband the part about Santa never coming into that store and how it must have been the hand of God tapping both this young woman and Santa on the shoulder and saying "there's somebody I want you to meet." I have to agree this makes as much sense as anything else. The magic of Santa is sought by a lot of people, but this is first time I've ever been stalked. 

Christmas Tree Lighting at Lakeside, Texas

I'm still enjoying a great feeling from the first Christmas Tree Lighting of the season. Mrs. Claus and I had a great time with the kids at Lakeside last night. This was our 3rd year with Lakeside and I think the combination of mild weather and the awesome performance by everyone's favorite Santa, they had about 75 people this year.

This was the largest crowd this little town had seen for their annual Christmas kickoff event and the mayor was elated! A children's choir from a local church did an awesome job on some of Santas' favorites and of course, my favorite part was lots of little ones all done up in festive Christmas colors.  

Santa's favorite quote of the night: A young girl, looked back at me just as she finished her visit with Santa and said with a twinkle in her eyes, "I know you are just one of his helpers...but you are a really good helper",  and then as if to hedge her bet she ran back up for a quick hug. And that quick hug from a little girl on the edge of believing is what warms Santas' heart.