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Being Santa
updated: Dec 12, 2010, 12:05 PM
By David Powdrell
Like a scrawny relief pitcher in the minor leagues, I got the nod to don the Santa suit for Carpinteria this year. Parade and all.
Pre-Parade Report
What a fluke. I'm short, pushing only 165 lbs., didn't apply for the position and am still scratching my head over how this all went down.
Bottom line: I'm in until or unless someone steps to the plate to fill the shoes.
Son-of-a-gun, the role of Santa is loaded with responsibility. Did you hear about the Macy's Santa in San Francisco that got fired recently for telling off-color jokes? The good thing is that he landed a gig at Lefty O'Doul's restaurant at Union Square getting twice the pay where he can tell all the jokes he wants. link
My amigo, Derek, was the Kiwanis Santa for several years. His main advice: Get your HO-HO-HO down pat and find out what's hot in the children's toy department.
Quirkle, Laugh and Learn Say Please Tea Set and Skip Hop Treetop Friends Hug and Hide Owl Activity Toy appear to be among Amazon's favorites. My guess, however, is that X-Box and Wii will be more popular.
My biggest fear? The handful of small children with head colds and runny noses dying to tug on the beard. I've seen Billy Bob Thornton in that ever-heartwarming Christmas classic, Bad Santa a few too many times. That can't help.
I just learned that there's Santa School "located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the closest thing to the North Pole." Men and women come from as far away as Asia and Europe to learn the many nuances of the job. I'll be passing on Santa School. It's not in our recession-driven budget this year.
Post Parade Report
The parade's over and I lost about 3 lbs. from sweat in a Santa suit that was fully depreciated in 1975. But now that I've had a chance to meet people on the street, here's what I've learned: Santa is the king of rock stars for kids ages 1-7. There's a lag for kids 8-16, then he's back in favor for most anyone over 16. Surfers, cheerleaders and grandparents love the old grey-haired fat man. I know that's a rash generalization, but that's my observation and I'm sticking to it. The most requested items: Princess bicycle, barbie, radio controlled airplane and candy.
Attached are photos of what the world looks like from Santa's perspective. My Santa cam, if you will.
A big thanks to the City of Carpinteria and the organizations and people that put on the holiday event. It's magical. I'm honored to have had the experience of riding on the firetruck and to have met so many wonderful people on the street. That was a life experience I'll treasure always.
Now sit back and enjoy the photos of what the world looks like through the eyes of Santa Claus. Recommendation: Look into the eyes of the toddlers.
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