Posts for category ‘Santa Rich’s 2009 Journal’

A note from Santa Rich to parents.

Don’t force that reluctant child onto Santa’s lap. Instead, do a repeated slow introduction.  Get your child accustomed to talking to Santa from a distance, then work a little closer.  Allow time for several “rehearsals” if you really want a good visit.  Better than a screaming, all legs and arms wiggling baby shot, any day! This is one of the hardest things about being a Santa to watch. We can only gently suggest to those parents not to push so hard.

Not all children need such effort, as most children absolutely come to Santa with such joy and glee in their eyes! They have no problem at all. Out of a typical day about a dozen kids may need that special attention. I advise parents to come back when there is no line, to spend a more relaxed time to get to know Santa. This sometimes works well.

Today I had a screamer, but when offered the Frosty the Snowman plush doll to hold, the child totally calmed down and everyone relaxed into a smiling, and happy photo opportunity. I was flabbergasted how this child switched so quickly!  Sometimes it is just a simple key thing…

Sunday is a short day, only 12–6 pm instead of 10 am–9 pm so I will actually have some hours to be awake and unwind. No early wake up either! I heard from one of the guests at the Russells’ on Thanksgiving that Durham has an active UU congregation, but checking their website only has 11 am service. Sure do miss my friends at UUCC!

Santa Rich Dwyer

Thanksgiving Day, 2009

I knew what I didn’t want to do today.  Eat at some fast food restaurant or stay in my room and nuke a frozen turkey dinner.

Well, I couldn’t be with my immediate family (Katherine cooked a turkey at the house for family today), I couldn’t be with my extended family at UUCC (Jeff & Kate cooked turkey for church and everyone bringing dishes), but I was fortunate enough to be at the home of Lita and Chris Russell and their daughter Anabell.

I was invited by my brother in law’s daughter to spend Thanksgiving at her family’s celebration.  And a celebration it was! They had cleared out their living room, put a sheet of plywood cut to size of leaves for a smaller DR table and made it into a BIG banquet table seating 12!

They were so gracious to allow a somewhat distant relative (we hadn’t seen each other in about 15 years) to come share their thanksgiving with some of their own friends and family.  This is sooo much what Thanksgiving is all about. We all have so much abundance in our lives. We went around the table and each expressed what he or she was thankful for.  May we keep this spirit to overwhelm those times when we don’t “feel” so abundant!

Now, Santa Rich gets ready for Friday! Fortunately I don’t have to be there at 5:30 am but just come in at 10.  And I have my own little cubbyhole parking spot just for Santa, so I don’t have to prowl for a parking space either. I am thankful for that too!

Santa Rich

Wednesday before Thanksgiving, 2009

A slow day.  I would much rather be steady busy than twiddling my thumbs.

Had 4 thirty-ish women get on or around Santa.  One said, “I’m married I shouldn’t sit on Santa’s knee.”

I said “What are you going to do? Run off with Santa, now?” We all laughed and got good pics for the group.

Toward the end of the evening 3 stairstep little girls came up from 4 to maybe 10 years old.  The youngest kept asking me if she was still on my good list.

The middle one (the skeptic) said, “You’re not real.”  Pulled my beard, and asked me what she wanted for Christmas.  I said, “Have you sent me your list?”  She said, “No.”  I said, “How am I supposed to know if you haven’t sent it yet?”  She tugged at my sideburn, saying, “Take off your hat.”  I did, then she was satisfied! Real hair!

They kept talking and asking questions, a real interrogation.  Finally told them that Mrs. Claus only wanted me to have two chocolate chip cookies this year since I was trying to cut back on my cholesteral.

Middle one said, “That mean you’re fat?”  I stammered, “Well I guess so.”

“Where are the reindeer?  Where’s your sleigh?”  On and on!  So funny, such innocence.

And they all left Santa with a big hug!

Tuesday before Thanksgiving, 2009

Well it was a quiet day in Lake…Oh that’s somebody else!

Not much going on, but afterwards coming back to the Hilton, met the night security guy Austin.  Originally from NY.  He came to NC recently to help with an ailing sister, but left a well paying big band gig as vocalist for the group Funkestra, like orchestra.  You can actually look his band up on YOUTUBE.  Has some cuts from music. He had just auditioned for a local big band and out of 13 others secured the lead vocalist. We looked at some of the songlist he would be picking up and between the two of us, he knew pretty much them all. You never know what you run into when you are open to the possibilities. Enjoyed our brief meeting and hope to see him again as he works from 10pm-6am, Sun-Thurs….

Santa Rich

May the magic of Christmas keep the twinkle in your eye!

Arrival in Durham, 2009

Got into Durham, this afternoon. The Streets at Southpointe is huge!

Across the street is the Hilton Garden Suites Inn where I have a Junior King Suite for a room.  It’s a living room and bedroom seperate…both rooms have TV.  Like I am going to have lots of time to watch TV!

The staff at the Hilton (knowing who I am) brought me milk and cookies.  Chocolate Chip no less!  They certainly know how to get on Santa’s good list with a welcome card and offer of assistance.

Met some of the Cherry Hill photo people. Seems like a good crew. The suit they have for me is deep maroon and the wrong size! Hopefully they will Fedex another one tomorrow or Monday, which means I use my own for two days.