I had been asked by the Friendship House in Solvang if I would be Santa Claus for their annual Christmas Party. I jumped at the chance. There isn’t a time of year I love more than Christmas.
Since I invested in the Santa suit, I also put it out there if anyone needed a St. Nick for any other event, I was their Ho Ho Ho go to guy. Pam Gnekow, who is a non-profit dynamo in Santa Ynez, opened a Christmas pop-up store in Solvang where the proceeds got to support Santa Ynez Community Outreach, Meals on Wheels, Veterans and help for Domestic Violence asked if I would be Santa for a night at the store.
I sat in the window and waved and greeted guests and was overwhelmed by how people reacted so warmly to the man in the suit. And not just the young, adults were equally as excited to get a photo and share their smiles.
After I left the store, I thought I would take a walk in Solvang Park. I wasn’t prepared for the outpouring of love and pure joy from everyone. Kids chased me down like the pied piper and adults pulled me aside for selfies. I was overcome with a kind-heartedness you can’t buy at any price.
The following week I visited the park again and received the same response. A lot of power comes with the red and white “uniform.”
“Working the room” at the Friendship House Christmas party was a lot of fun seeing the expressions of the residents when I addressed them by their names. Being a volunteer for five years I have come to know most all of them, and it made being Santa so much more rewarding.
Regardless of the mental state some might be in, the image of Santa Claus brought smiles and a brightness to their eyes. It could take a few seconds, but quickly enough many would reply, perhaps weakly, but respond nonetheless, “Hi Santa.”
Even the simple act of handing out candy canes or Christmas socks was received as if they were getting a flat screen TV. It doesn’t take much to stir the memory of good times gone by and bring forth grins. And even though they knew I wasn’t the mythical Santa, they spoke as if I were and I remained in character.
I went on to visit some of the other residents who were sadly further along in their disease. Some were staring blankly off, but when I came into their field of view, they immediately showed signs of recognition and the slightest forming of a smile.
I had no way of knowing what they were thinking but the fact that the image of Santa Claus could jog the mind and bring even a fleeting a moment of joy is remarkable. Me included, as we get older, we speak more of the past, the good times we lived through. The chapters that made us who we are. The raising of children and for many, the blessings of grandchildren. We shared decades of Christmases with family and friends filled with celebrations of laughter, gift giving and family meals.
I personally can have a few moments of sadness each Christmas as I’m sure many of us do as we get older. We reflect on what has been and how quickly each year passes and question how many we do have left.
For those suffering memory losses, I can only fathom a guess what some of their struggles might be. Yet if only for a fleeting moment seeing Santa Claus brings back times of wonder and happiness, that’s a genuine gift with no price tag.
To me that makes Santa Claus real.
Merry Christmas and to all a good night.