So how did I get these two Santa gigs?
One word: Family.
My dad owns a Santa suit and used to play Santa before his head injury a few years ago. My mom made me a fat suit when I was in high school (that's a story for a different day). Add these two bits of costume together, and voilà! A recipe for success.
My brother, who of course knows about the Santa suit and the fat suit, is on the activities committee in his LDS ward, and so he was involved in planning their annual Christmas party. He asked me to come make a visit to his ward Christmas breakfast party thing. So I put on my fat suit, and my dad's Santa suit, and my jolliest of moods, and this is what resulted:
(That's my awesome wife on my lap.)
The next day, I got a phone call from my dad. He said their ward Christmas party had to be changed to a new night and the Santa they had originally arranged couldn't make it on the new night. He talked to someone on their activities committee and kinda volunteered me to show up to their party, so he was calling me to see if I would be available. So I gladly donned the costume and reprised my role.
So I got to be Santa for a bunch of kiddos in Utah. It was really fun. And yes... it's VERY HOT in all that getup, but playing Santa has been one of the most fun things I've done. It's a great feeling to enter a room and have people cheer and clap because you're there. Even if it's not really *you* they're cheering. Then to have kids line up and crowd around you with such anticipation. Sure, there's a bit of pressure there, but you're Santa, so it's all good.
The little kids that are about 3 to 7 years old or so are SO DANG CUTE! Most of them would eagerly, and somewhat shyly, climb onto my lap for their little interview. I would ask them their name, and they would tell me, while staring deeply into my eyes. I would ask if they've been good, and they would earnestly tell me they have been. Then I would ask them what they would like for Christmas. Some knew exactly what they wanted and were so excited to tell me. Others would sit there for a moment, deep in thought, before telling me their greatest Christmas wish. Then I'd give them a little treat -- a candy cane or whatever -- and send them on their way with a pat on the back and a "Merry Christmas!"
Some kids were very nice, and brought Santa a gift of their own. I got a cookie from one little boy, hand-colored pictures from a couple other boys, and a jingle bell on a ribbon from a little girl. So cute!There were a few kids that were so excited to have Santa near them, that they just hung around, watching. Santa would be busy with other kids, but out of the corner of my eye, I would see a few kids lingering in awe, hoping for a chance to talk to Santa again. Then when it was time to leave, these same kids would follow Santa to the door and wave at him while he left.
My small role as Santa was a heart-warming experience, and my favorite part was the kids that would just stare into my eyes with such wonder.
Merry Christmas!
2 comments:
Cute Justin! p.s. You know you're going to get busy after leaving that blog! A sense a full-time holiday gig coming on....
What do you mean? I cheer everytime you walk into the room.
I think it's awesome you got to play Santa. Thanks to Phyllis, it is now my goal to play Santa (have you watched The Office yet?).
Good thing you clarified that that was your wife on your lap. Otherwise this post could've gone a whole other way.
I think you've found your new calling in life.
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