I don’t even remember for sure where my first Santa suit came from. I was a Jaycee member many years ago and I think the suit belonged to them. When the organization closed its doors I think I was left holding the bag…..the Santa suit.

Whenever a function occurred where a Santa was required I would put on the suit and become that jolly old fellow. I didn’t do it very often, however.  It wasn’t until I retired from teaching that things changed drastically.  My first  ‘impersonating of Santa’ opportunity came the first Christmas after I had retired.

On the last day of school before Christmas vacation our local elementary ended the day by having all the grades K thru 6 meet in the elementary school gymnasium, sit on the floor, sing Christmas carols and receive a candy cane before dismissal.

That particular year at a staff meeting someone suggested that Santa Claus could be present and hand out the candy canes as well as join in singing the festive songs. But who would be willing to do such a thing?

Someone brought up my name. Probably because it was well known that I was involved in every teacher skit performed in the high school over the past twenty-five years. During a lip sink contest during one homecoming we teachers performed and acted out that famous song from the 50’s, “The Itsy Bitsy, Teeny, Weeny, Yellow Polka-dot Bikini”.

Of course you can guess who wore the yellow, polka dotted bikini. I was stunning with my shoulder length blonde wig and two piece bathing suit. I’ve never told anyone this but back stage before we performed two senior boys asked me out! I refused them of course. 🙂 (not all of the information in this blog may be truthful)

I agreed to play Santa Claus that first year. The precedent had been set. For the next years a week or so before the start of Christmas vacation the phone would ring and there would be an elementary teacher or principal on the other end of the line requesting that I impersonate the jolly old gentleman from the North Pole. How could I refuse?

My suit was not real classy looking. I looked like a Santa Claus that might be teetering on the edge of becoming homeless. The kids didn’t seem to mind. They were too busy enjoying their candy canes but I was becoming a little self conscious of my tattered, worn-out suit.

Then it happened. We were wandering around a Menards store looking for ‘after Christmas’ bargains when I approached a shelf stocked with gorgeous Santa suits for half price. I couldn’t resist. In fact I almost bought two suits in case some nervous   kindergarten student threw up his lunch on me as he told me his Christmas wishes.

So for the past Christmas performances at the Pearson Elementary School I have been a pretty dapper looking Old Saint Nick if I do say so myself.

The younger the student the more of an impression I made. The students were seated on the gym floor with the kindergarten children in front. Behind them were the first graders, then the second, third, fourth, fifth and finally the sixth grade making up the last row.

The little kindergarten children and first graders stared at me with wonder and awe. They believed they there viewing the real Santa Claus. The sixth graders now were a different story. All they wanted was to get their hands on those candy canes and be excused to start their Christmas vacation.  Meanwhile as they waited they were discussing who the fat guy in the red suit really was. Names were being shared and each little sixth grader was hoping the impersonator didn’t turn out to be their dad! How embarrassing that would be.

I just finished my Christmas visit at the school for this year. It was organized a little differently than my earlier visits. The piano was sitting in the middle of the hallway and students gathered around the piano and sang. I wandered among them handing out candy canes and wishing them “Merry Christmas”. Also I answered various questions like; “Where is your sleigh?” “What are the elves doing?” “Is Rudolph with you?” “Do you remember what I told you I wanted for Christmas?”

We had a major problem take place during this Christmas visit. Instead of ordering 160 candy canes someone only ordered 60! Santa had to think fast on how to handle the emergency. He just passed the buck. He apologized for running out of candy canes and proceeded to explain that his elves had made a terrible mistake and that he would be reprimanding them when he returned to the North Pole. The students took the news quite well. I think they were already so full of sugar that they thought who really needed another candy cane anyway.

Sometimes I am tempted to retire from my Santa role. Then as each Christmas visit rolls around and I view the children’s smiles and wide eyes filled with awe I know it is worth doing. Where else in this troubled, hate-filled world can one experience true love like this?

As I was leaving the school yesterday smugly thinking the young children were viewing me as the real St. Nick I was humbled when a little student hollered out to me, “Hi Mike!”

It looks like I’ll need to improve my disguise for next year. I’ll lengthen my beard. Maybe I could pull my Santa hat down  over my ears. Or this summer, a nose job perhaps! 🙂

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Until next time.