There's Santa!

How I Became Santa

My journey of becoming Santa started with a Christmas ornament. It was a hand-carved wooden Santa ornament. My children, who are now grown, were very young at the time, and because my hair turned white early in life, my kids thought the ornament looked like me. Each Christmas, we would hang the ornament on the tree, and the kids would say, “Dad, he looks just like you!” I admit, I could see bit of a resemblance, but I did not have a full beard and I never wore a Santa hat, so I always chuckled and continued decorating the tree.

A few years ago, my wife, Michele, and I were out shopping when a little girl in a shopping cart spotted me, pointed, and said, “There’s Santa Claus!” I was in my everyday dad clothes, so I was a little surprised by the little girl’s reaction, but I went with it anyway. As we passed by, the mother looked at me and said to her daughter, “Yes, it is.” I gave the little girl a “ho ho ho” in my best Santa voice.

Another evening, I stopped by a 7-11 to grab a drink. I saw a father with his two young sons. The boys would not take their eyes off me. While I was wearing my street clothes, I understood what was happening. I said to the boys “You’ve been staring at me. Is it because you know who I am?” Without hesitation, the older of the two exclaimed, “You’re Santa!” I told the boys not to tell anyone. As I walked toward the cooler, the older boy called out, “Santa, can I have an iPhone for Christmas?” I walked back to the boy and said, “I think you may be a little too young for an iPhone.” The father said “See? Even Santa said so. Thank you, Santa! Merry Christmas!”

These encounters got me thinking. I knew there was an old Santa coat and hat lying somewhere around the house that my son had picked up for a Halloween costume. I found the outfit, put it on, and sat at the kitchen counter working on my computer. My wife came around the corner, gasped, said, “You’re Santa Claus!” She said she had to get a photo! That photo and a photo of our Christmas ornament are posted on my “There’s Santa” FB page.

The next day, my wife, who is a physical therapist, she saw a patient whose daughter is a Christmas fanatic. Michele asked her patient if her daughter would like a visit from Santa. Well, you know what the answer was. Now, I’m thinking, “Oh, no! I have this old, tattered Santa coat with the lining falling apart, a cool hat, and blue jeans. I cannot show up at a Christmas expert’s home wearing this get-up and claim to be Santa!” I had to do something quick. I located a Coca-Cola Santa illustration and went to work trying to find Santa apparel that was unique and looked like the Coca-Cola Santa. I was on a tight budget and a short timeline. I got a suit out of Philly, leather boots from London, and leather gloves from Etsy. This Santa needed a bag that was not red velvet. So, I cobbled together a bag of my own making that is fit for Coca-Cola’s Santa. Santa did not see the little girl that is Christmas-crazy. She was sick the day Santa was supposed to visit. Though I saw other children, and no doubt I will see her and other families this year!

My kids encouraged me to lean into the role, so I’ve tweaked Santa’s outfit. I guess while others dress up to be Santa, maybe the young girl at Costco and the boy at 7/11 are right. <wink> Decide for yourself, and thanks, all, for reading. Merry Christmas!