Return Of Samta

Like last December, Traci organized a big Christmas party for developmentally disabled residents of Good Shepherd, and I got to be the old, sweaty, fat guy.

Before I got dressed, I met a man who volunteered to help with the party. He asked what my job was. After I told him, he mentioned that he can talk like Santa, and in fact there is a woman in California who wants to come to Oregon to meet him due to his voice and his email messages. She thinks they have a really strong connection, but he's only been divorced for 8 months after 21 years of marriage and he's still hurting...and then I had to go get dressed.



In this picture I am with a few kids (including Nick) who were helping with the party.

If I do this gig again, I need to do a better job at anticipating questions/comments I might get asked, and preparing responses. Here are some short conversations from Saturday's deal.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Hey, Santa, you don't look as fat as you should be."

"Umm, thank you? Santa's been trying to eat healthier this year."

- - - - - - - - - -

"Santa, did you bring us presents today?"

"Umm, no, umm, - oh yeah, you have to wait for Christmas. But, you can go play some games in the other room and win some prizes."

"Oh."

- - - - - - - - - -

"Santa, I want a watch for Christmas."

"A watch, huh?

"Yeah."

"Well, umm - Okay - I heard you - Merry Christmas!"

- - - - - - - - - -

"Santa, can I have another cookie?"

"I don't know - let's ask the staff."

- - - - - - - - - -

"Hi, Santa!"

"Merry Christmas, John!"

"Hey, how did you know my name?"

(stop looking at John's name tag) "I'm Santa!"

- - - - - - - - - -

I guess that my 1990 summer job as a dancing rooster at Six Flags is really paying off.