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Santa's Secrets of the Suit |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Thursday, 21 December 2006 |
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Remember how much you loved Santa as a kid? Maybe your parents would bundle you up and drive to the mall so you could sit on his lap. Maybe you made a list for Santa so he would know what to leave under your tree. Maybe you would set out some milk and cookies for him on Christmas Eve.
And maybe — just maybe — there is still a part of you that will always believe.
As you go about your hustle and bustle during the holidays, stop and look around. You might notice the postman closely resembles Santa and you can’t help but stare at the white beard of a man you see at the bank, grocery store or restaurant. In fact, Santa has been sighted all over northern Colorado this year, just ask any child between the ages of 4 and 11.
With believing eyes, you just may see him too.
If you’re really busy, it might also help to remember Santa and the goodness he brings.
Maybe you will take your own children to visit Santa. Maybe you’ll help them write a list for Santa and help them make cookies to leave out. And maybe you, too, will remember what it’s like to believe.
“The belief is something, but the love little kids have is real,” Santa said.
And after all, there is a little kid in all of us.
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Santa sigtings
Sighting No. 1 at the greeley mall in greeley
If you’re on a mission, the Greeley Mall is a guaranteed hangout for Santa. An intricate key hangs around his neck and spectacles perch at the end of his nose.
When children ask about the key, he tells them it’s a magic key for the homes without fireplaces.
“The key only works for Santa,” he said through an e-mail note.
He keeps his natural white beard year round and lets it grow longer and fuller starting July 1. For the last 32 years, his beard just gets whiter and whiter.
He enjoys the sheer joy and innocence that children bring.
“They run up to me and say, ‘Santa’ and ask what I am doing,” he said. “I let them know that I am checking in on them to see if they are being good.”
They often remind him of his 11 grandchildren who live too far away for him to see on a regular basis.
In Greeley, his top gift requests this year have been Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, horses and Heelys shoes.
“One child brought in an entire catalog that he made with everything that he wanted for Christmas,” Santa said.
The little boy even included the price of each item, a description and where the item could be bought in case the North Pole was out.
He also gets heart-wrenching requests once in a while.
“One young man, about 7 years old, asked that his baby sister who was in the hospital get well,” he said.
Another young child asked if Santa could bring back a parent who had passed away.
In tough situations like these, Santa tenderly explains that he cannot fulfill such requests but that he and Mrs. Claus will keep the child and the child’s family in their thoughts.
Other than the Greeley Mall, Santa has been seen at the US Bank on 10th Street in Greeley and even stopped in at the Summit View Medical Clinic for a check-up.
Of course everyone knows Santa lives at the North Pole, but few know he also has a summer home in Sterling, Ill. He will spend New Year’s with family there. After traveling the world delivering presents, Santa said he is also going to get some R&R in Florida.
Little known Santa fact: Santa has been known to do some photography for a northern Colorado studio.
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Santa sigtings
Sighting No. 2 at grandview cemetery in Fort Collins
It’s true you might see Santa in the strangest places, even cemeteries. And he has been seen at the Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins.
The way he sees it, cemeteries are places to celebrate life. And being the history buff that he is, Santa knows quite a bit about life in Fort Collins. He is involved with the Santa Cop’s program and programs at the Barton Early Childhood Center.
“I had a 5-year-old girl at Barton come in and barely tug on my beard,” Santa said. “When she came to get a package, she tugged a little more. Then, when she went to leave, she tugged really hard and almost pulled me off the children’s chair I was sitting on. I wasn’t expecting that.”
Of course, his natural beard didn’t budge, and the satisfaction the holidays bring is worth a little pain.
“It’s just fun to be around the kids,” he said.
His favorite Christmas music is Celtic Christmas music and Mannheim Steamroller. If you want to get on his good side, leave out some chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies.
When children are scared to sit on his lap he gets down on his hands and knees to talk to them.
“Some parents think they have to have that picture,” he said. “I don’t agree. I don’t want to scare them.”
Santa said he has gotten two requests for pink ponies and lots of requests for dolls and trucks. Even though he stays busy in the toy shop, he manages to hang Christmas lights and set out a nativity scene for Christmas. When he isn’t trying to stay warm in the North Pole, he is out riding ATVs and camping in the mountains, like a healthy 61-year-old would do.
Little known Santa fact: Mrs. Claus isn’t the only one who can cook. Santa pops delicious kettle corn.
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Santa sigtings
Sighting No. 3 at Old Town Square in Fort Collins
You’ve probably noticed Santa’s Workshop in the middle of Old Town Square. If you pop your head in, you might find Santa speaking Spanish to Hispanic children and using sign language to communicate with deaf children.
Santa is a jack-of-all-trades. He makes origami boxes, plays an accordion-like instrument called a concertina, ice skates and is a fantastic storyteller.
“When you’ve got just the right age children and they are so excited, it becomes a magical time,” he said. “Sometimes Santa becomes a confidant and it’s almost like privileged information is passed back and forth. Children have very important things to say and Santa will listen.”
One of the troubling requests he has heard before is for mom and dad to stop fighting.
“It would be great if I could give that as a present,” Santa said. “I have to be creative and respond in a meaningful way. I say whatever comes to my mind and heart.”
Among the dolls and trucks in his sack, he might have a few vacuum cleaners, telescopes, microscopes, choo choo trains and iPods for children in Fort Collins.
Rudolph will lead the sleigh again, but one of Santa’s favorite reindeers keeps a lower profile.
His name is Bouncer, and he visited Fort Collins this season.
“He’s not one of the traditional nine,” Santa said. “He never learned to fly. He tries so hard, he bounces in the air.”
Little known Santa fact: He really likes relaxing hammocks.
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Santa sightings
Sighting No. 4 in a mail truck around Fort Collins
Everyone knows Santa delivers gifts, but sometimes he actually drives a mail truck to deliver them.
“I deliver packages all year and people are always happy to see me,” Santa said with a smile.
He also has been seen in plays at the Lincoln Center. He remembers after one particular show, a little boy kept looking at him.
“While his mother was standing there, he asked me if I was the real Santa,” he said. “I asked him, ‘What do you think?’ He said he thought I was and I told him I was. He jumped into my arms and hugged me. His mother was in the background mouthing ‘Thank you.’ ”
For a particular play this year, “Splitting Infinity” by Jamie Pachino, Santa looks more like Hanukkah Harry. He is playing Rabbi Saul Lieberman and will trade in his Santa hat for a yarmulke for the production. You might not recognize him because he will have to dye his white beard brown for the play.
He will of course let it grow back to its natural snow-colored white after the show.
“My wife doesn’t like my mustache long because it gets in the way of my lips for kissing,” Santa said.
Another one of Santa’s many interests is cars. His most recent is a 1968 Karmann Ghia. You might see the little red and white convertible out and about around town. It’s pretty easy to spot with a license plate like St-Nick.
A little girl in Fort Collins was lucky enough to spot Santa when she was out grocery shopping at the Albertson’s at Cedarwood Plaza with her mother.
“She looked up and her eyes got real big,” Santa said. “She pointed at me and I said, ‘Shhh... It’s a secret. Don’t tell anyone.’ ” | Only registered users can write comments.
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