Ho Ho Ho (NJM16)
The parents made it into town just fine, so it seems that the problems with the air traffic control have been fixed – although I was unsurprised to find that the ongoing construction and problems with the traffic patterns driving in and out of Newark airport remain as bad as they have always been. It’s kind of a joke in this state how long highway construction projects can go on – always with the assumption that there is probably a factor of crookedness involved in the process.
We had our annual church fair, which has a Christmas theme. It’s a little too early to be thinking seriously about Christmas – unless you are the person in charge of putting the decorations up at the mall, in which case you thought of it a couple weeks ago. In fact, we can all be shocked that Christmas is barely more than a month away – so maybe a Christmas fair at church is not that unreasonable.
The funny part was that I was "volunteered" to play Santa this year – the only actual volunteer was an eighth grader, and somebody thought that maybe I was a closer fit to the bill (although not close at all – see my "Ten Things You Might Not Know About Me" entry). No, I am not Santa-sized – but I made do with the help of a pillow.
The main part of the job was sitting in a large chair and having children up in my lap to have their pictures taken. We had several dozen children through – and there were only two screamers, so that was good. Although more than one person told me that I should consider myself lucky just because I was able to do it with that many kids and not be either thrown up on or peed on. It was fun – many of the smaller children were really excited by it, and really wanted to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. There was only one older boy who climbed in my lap, pulled the beard, and said, "just testing." Then there were a few older kids who were there just for fun.
There was one pair of children who came in, and handed ME two little wrapped presents. They were just small things, but I didn’t know how to respond – I never expected somebody to bring Santa presents, and didn’t know what to say. I finally sputtered out a "thank you" and told them how much Santa appreciated getting presents, because it was something that almost never happens. It made them very happy.
Overall, it was a really fun experience. I got to walk around the fair a couple times and wave at the children – it was so fun to watch the little ones whose eyes would grow wide and who really believed. Let me be clear – I look NOTHING like Santa Claus – but I think in some ways, anybody could put on that red suit, and you would be able to enchant a certain percentage of children, no matter what. I was still a little hoarse today from so much "hoho"ing.
At the end of the day, the photographer who was taking the pictures (who had worked at the fair in several years past) said, "Well, you’re better than the Santa we had last year – he had a medication problem, and kept falling asleep with the children in his lap." Apparently, there are several pictures of last year’s Santa with his head slouched down over smiling children.
It seems, if I need a second career, I could at least make a passing St. Nick. So I got that going for me.
The DiaryMaster
You are so sweet!
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No bah humbug around you! Ho-ho-ho and merry, merry!
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That is so cool. I love the magic and wonder of little children. I sit under the tree (well, next to it) on Christmas eve in the dark with the tree lit up. It’s extra magic if it happens to be snowing. And I sit and make believe like I did when I was little. I still want Santa to make my wishes come true. A piece of me still believes. And every time I see a mall or store Santa I have to fight theurge to sit on his lap and whisper in his ear. I hate being a grown-up sometimes.
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Hey I’d sit on your lap and tell you what I want if given the chance. (Don’t worry, I’d be respectful but I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity). I got teary eyed reading about the 2 little kids who gave you presents. That was so sweet. Glad to hear that your parents arrived safely. By the way, are you ever going to tell us what you named the black kitten. Actually you haven’t mentioned them at all, are they ok?
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So do the OD-ers get to sit on our diary master’s lap and ask for presents? Heh. Kidding. Sounds like a great experience though. Glad you got the chance to enjoy it.
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Sounds like such an awesome thing to experience!
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How come we don’t get to see a photo of Santa?
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Awww, good on you. :o)
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I wish we could see a photo of you as Santa! Here, children can’t sit on Santa’s knee anymore. It’s just not allowed!
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lol do we get to see some pic of santa dm?
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Hi DM…yes, I agree it is about time we see a picture of you and the Diary Mistress…Hugs
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🙂
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When I was very little, and supposed to be in bed sleeping, my Mum was dressed as Santa Claus for some small gathering the neighbours in the street were having. I looked at my Mum and thought she was really Santa, and I freaked out and hid from everyone, screaming that I wanted my Mummy. My Mum tried to calm me down, telling me that it was her and it was just a costume – look, a felt beard! – but I was too wrapped up in her being Santa.. so I thought that Santa had EATEN my Mum. Was quite traumatised, for about half an hour.
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And I’m sure all those little smiles got the Christmas spirit flowing in you big time! I LOVE to see little children that still believe.
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Now inquiring minds want to know, what were in the 2 little gifts from the kids?
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That is so cute about giving Santa a gift.
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This, your best entry yet.
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ohhhhhhhh and maybe next year you can also play the easter bunny. i had my picture taken with him but he had a crooked eye, must have got messed up in storage. maybe last years santa was passed out from too much egg nog. that happens…sometimes. bad santa. heheh.
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How nice of you to volunteer as Santa. You would have made a better Mrs. Claus, but I guess she doesn’t make the rounds. I can’t wait to take Spawn to see Santa this year and count the seconds between put-on-lap and his crying, “Mommy carry.” Why do we continue to torture the kid?? This year we’ll bring something for Santa. i’d never thought of doing that. 🙂
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That was a neat thing you were able to do. Kudos to you!
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Ah! I gotta do santa pics in about a week. They always volunteer the grumpiest guy to play him. The photographer shouldn’t have to be 50 times happier than santa…LOL
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Santa DM! You have something else to add to your expanding resume. 😀 Eric
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Awww…! Awesome!! 🙂
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The people who put up Christmas decorations at the mall start thinking about it in July.
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awwwwwwwww thats so cool nothing like big eyed kiddies
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There you have your excuse for being behind on NoJoMo…you are busy playing Santa for the kids!! That one sure will work for me…since I am a xmas nut….not literraly, but you know what I mean! We are on day 23 and you are on 16, lol, that really makes me giggle. Til another entry Master Santa…..oh that sounds a bit strange!
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What no pics of you as a skinny Santa? I would love to see that!
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I always thought PA was the worse state for road construction…in fact, I’m sure it is!!:)
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A John Tesh look a like in a Santa Suit. That ain’t right man. :))
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aww so cute! That must have been pretty rewarding…making kids smile and happy..good job..ho ho ho~ lol
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SO SEWEET!! Every entry reveals a litle more about the inner you… Keep it up!! =)
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What a nice job 🙂 And it’s so cute that some of the kids brought YOU presents. It’s nice that they thought of you 🙂
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LOL that’s cute you’re gonna be Santa! 🙂 xoxo
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We’ve only taken one child to see Santa, our oldest. After that nightmare fiasco (and the screams, not crying but SCREAMS of TERROR) we never did that again!! My kids are very distrusting of fat men who break into our house through our chimney. I can’t say that I don’t blame them. The idea of it is creepy. But glad you had a great time.
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Those two little’uns bringing Santa presents? Precious! —
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You are going to play Santa? Nice! Wonder how you would look like in that red costume? Must be so cute. So, Santa … I wish for a giant star in the sky? Can you bring that down to me here? 🙂 Wish you a good day, DiaryMaster. And the Force be with you! Yea!
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Wow, awesome^^ How touching of those two little kids ^^ Way to go ‘Santa’ ^^
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Dear DM, I recently implemented some friends groups (which I have since deleted) but discovered that no one was able to read any of my friends only entries prior to the installment of groups unless I went back and checked a box or two for 1,212 entries.. I’m not about to do that, so that’s why I deleted the friends groups. Is there anything that can be done about that? Thanks. 🙂
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ho ho hooooo hoooooooohh hooo
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i think njm 16 is where you putter out 🙂 happy thanksgiving. i wanted to get that in there before i forget cause that day will surely slip by with little regard at all. plus i’ve set that whole day aside for crying =P (i jest)
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sounds like you were a great santa!! take care,
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I just wanted to stop by and say hello and tell you that I used to write here, back when you just started this site. I am very much pleased with all the changes you have made to Open Diary, and I am looking forward to updating to OD plus in the very near future. Thanks
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