Santa's worried!
One of my favorite movies at Christmas time is Miracle on 34th Street. Not all the remakes, but the original with Edmund Gywnn and a young Natalie Woods. I think it is one of my favorites because of the innocence that is shown. Not only through the eyes of a child, but through the eyes of people who believe! If you have ever seen the movie, I have always felt a strong connection to the kid who worked at Macy's sweeping the floor!
For over 33 years, I have played Santa Claus in various venues. Now, none of them have been at the malls or anything like that. It has been at private parties, church parties, or in private homes on Christmas Eve.
It all started when I was 16 years old. Yes, I have always been able to fill the shoes, or pants for that matter of Santa. Being a rather large teenager allowed me to wear the suit without any padding. When I was 16, one of the customers in the grocery store where I worked came in all mad and frustrated. It seems the Kindergarten teacher told her 5 year old that Santa did not exist. Mom said if she could find someone to come to the house dressed as the jolly old elf, she would pay them. One of my co-workers volunteered me. The mother of the child in question went straight to the rental shop and rented a suit for me to wear. At that point, a love for Christmas was born. I played Santa for Amanda that evening, and went on to play Santa for her and her own children as the years went by.
One year I played Kris Kringle for a National Guard Unit that was being shipped out to the Gulf for Dessert Storm. That was probably the largest group at over 325 kids!
One of my most memorable stints as Santa was for an organization known as the Hope Center. The Hope Center is a group of churches that came together, threw out denominational lines and said it was time for the family of God to help! Twice a year they come together and feed, clothe and provide for the homeless in one of the surrounding counties where I live. This particular year, a young girl of 4 asked if Santa could bring her Dad back. I assumed her dad was in jail. When I asked her where her father was, she told me he had died. Once again, I thought the worst, that he was killed in a drug deal gone bad, or something to that effect. During further investigation, I found out that he indeed did die during a drug deal, but he was an innocent bystander! He was pumping gas, while his daughter was asleep in the back seat, when he was shot. I looked down at that little girl and said, "Honey, Santa can do a lot of things, bu he can't do that". I went on to tell her that if Santa knows anything, he knows that her dad was in Heaven, at the right hand side of God, and was pointing down and saying, "Jesus, look, that's my little girl down there and I love her". Yes, I did wipe the tear away from my eye as she walked to get her gifts!
I tell you all this because I am worried! Tomorrow and Tuesday, I will play Santa for about 120 children at the Organization where I work. This will be the first time since surgery a year ago that I will put on the red suit! Let's talk a little about body image here. Santa is a big guy, with a belly that shakes like a bowl of jelly when he laughs. Let's face it, my belly full of jelly is no longer jiggily! I know that persona plays a big part in who Santa is. It is not only the overweight person in the suit, but Santa is a big guy in more ways than one! He is larger than life!
This is a picture of the morbidly obese Santa taken in 2007. Tomorrow I'll post a picture of the average size Santa!
Who knows, maybe I'm worried about nothing. I feel that when I put on the suit, I will magically inflate to my old self. That scares me, cause I don't want to inflate to that person. Sunday was a bad day as far as eaing goes. Beth spent the day making 7 different types of sugar free cookies for our work places. I of course tried each and everyone on more than one occassion. Who knows, maybe I was just trying to pack out the Santa Suit? Is there such a thing as a skinny Santa? Cause that's who I want to be, not a fat one!
Let's just hope my Ho, Ho, Ho does not come out as He, He He!
I'll let ya know how it turns out!
Santa Scott
For over 33 years, I have played Santa Claus in various venues. Now, none of them have been at the malls or anything like that. It has been at private parties, church parties, or in private homes on Christmas Eve.
It all started when I was 16 years old. Yes, I have always been able to fill the shoes, or pants for that matter of Santa. Being a rather large teenager allowed me to wear the suit without any padding. When I was 16, one of the customers in the grocery store where I worked came in all mad and frustrated. It seems the Kindergarten teacher told her 5 year old that Santa did not exist. Mom said if she could find someone to come to the house dressed as the jolly old elf, she would pay them. One of my co-workers volunteered me. The mother of the child in question went straight to the rental shop and rented a suit for me to wear. At that point, a love for Christmas was born. I played Santa for Amanda that evening, and went on to play Santa for her and her own children as the years went by.
One year I played Kris Kringle for a National Guard Unit that was being shipped out to the Gulf for Dessert Storm. That was probably the largest group at over 325 kids!
One of my most memorable stints as Santa was for an organization known as the Hope Center. The Hope Center is a group of churches that came together, threw out denominational lines and said it was time for the family of God to help! Twice a year they come together and feed, clothe and provide for the homeless in one of the surrounding counties where I live. This particular year, a young girl of 4 asked if Santa could bring her Dad back. I assumed her dad was in jail. When I asked her where her father was, she told me he had died. Once again, I thought the worst, that he was killed in a drug deal gone bad, or something to that effect. During further investigation, I found out that he indeed did die during a drug deal, but he was an innocent bystander! He was pumping gas, while his daughter was asleep in the back seat, when he was shot. I looked down at that little girl and said, "Honey, Santa can do a lot of things, bu he can't do that". I went on to tell her that if Santa knows anything, he knows that her dad was in Heaven, at the right hand side of God, and was pointing down and saying, "Jesus, look, that's my little girl down there and I love her". Yes, I did wipe the tear away from my eye as she walked to get her gifts!
I tell you all this because I am worried! Tomorrow and Tuesday, I will play Santa for about 120 children at the Organization where I work. This will be the first time since surgery a year ago that I will put on the red suit! Let's talk a little about body image here. Santa is a big guy, with a belly that shakes like a bowl of jelly when he laughs. Let's face it, my belly full of jelly is no longer jiggily! I know that persona plays a big part in who Santa is. It is not only the overweight person in the suit, but Santa is a big guy in more ways than one! He is larger than life!
This is a picture of the morbidly obese Santa taken in 2007. Tomorrow I'll post a picture of the average size Santa!
Who knows, maybe I'm worried about nothing. I feel that when I put on the suit, I will magically inflate to my old self. That scares me, cause I don't want to inflate to that person. Sunday was a bad day as far as eaing goes. Beth spent the day making 7 different types of sugar free cookies for our work places. I of course tried each and everyone on more than one occassion. Who knows, maybe I was just trying to pack out the Santa Suit? Is there such a thing as a skinny Santa? Cause that's who I want to be, not a fat one!
Let's just hope my Ho, Ho, Ho does not come out as He, He He!
I'll let ya know how it turns out!
Santa Scott
I read your post, and the first thing I thought of is, even though we have never met face to face, I just feel your personality is larger than life. You seem like such a caring and giving man, and I don't think the kids will mind what size Santa is, I think they too will know you are there because you love them. I believe it was you who told me to breathe... so breathe and enjoy your day, Santa..
Just think, without the belly of jelly, you can snuggle them closer to you in your lap! Most of the kids just need the love and attention, more than anything!
Thank you for your posts, you've kept me going, & given me a great Christmas present in a friend!
Just think, without the belly of jelly, you can snuggle them closer to you in your lap! Most of the kids just need the love and attention, more than anything!
Thank you for your posts, you've kept me going, & given me a great Christmas present in a friend!
Good Morning Scott,
I for one can understand the body image part of this post that you are feeling. Sometimes I think of myself as "deformed" now because I don't have my big belly now. Over the years I'd grown accustomed to having it and always thought it would be there. Santa is who we are inside, not on the outside. I know that you'll do great today because you have enjoyed being "Santa" so much. You are still the same person on the inside now as you were before you lost the weight, just thinner and healthier. I'm sure that all of those kids will love you. I did miss you and Beth at the Reunion. Hope to see you both at the face-to-face.
Good Luck and I will be praying for you today!
Hugs,
Tammy P
I for one can understand the body image part of this post that you are feeling. Sometimes I think of myself as "deformed" now because I don't have my big belly now. Over the years I'd grown accustomed to having it and always thought it would be there. Santa is who we are inside, not on the outside. I know that you'll do great today because you have enjoyed being "Santa" so much. You are still the same person on the inside now as you were before you lost the weight, just thinner and healthier. I'm sure that all of those kids will love you. I did miss you and Beth at the Reunion. Hope to see you both at the face-to-face.
Good Luck and I will be praying for you today!
Hugs,
Tammy P
That is one of mine and Bill's favorites too. The original black & white version.
As for being a skinny Santa...you can always tell them that Mrs. Claus has had you on Atkins this year and you are really looking forward to them leaving you cookies. BWAHAAAAA!
Bill has had over 8,000 kids on his lap this year and he has one more special event this coming Sunday night.
Susan (AKA bilsrib)
300/135/135 - Plastics February 2008 - Dr. Lois Wagstrom
P E A C E - It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.
This post made me cry... the story of the little girl who lost her father, that is so sad.
You could play a game with the kids and ask them the top 10 Reasons that Ms. Klaus put you on a diet. I bet you would surely come up with some hilarious comments! LOL. You know how kids are... they will probably have you laughing so hard from their responses.
Christmas is a magical time of year. As someone said, its your larger than life personality that will have them awestruck... not your big jolly ole belly... or lack of!
Scott,
I remember one year, after my grandpa passed, I did not want to celebrate Christmas. I was 7 and it was the first year I would not have him. I remember being taken to Santa anyway. I remember looking into his eyes and him telling me that i was a good girl and had people who loved me. That made me cry and he just hugged me so tight. After that kind man was sweet to this sad little pudgy girl, I was happy to celebrate Christmas. I dont have any idea how "big" he was but his heart was HUGE!
Just like YOURS!
Bless you for touching those little lives...
I remember one year, after my grandpa passed, I did not want to celebrate Christmas. I was 7 and it was the first year I would not have him. I remember being taken to Santa anyway. I remember looking into his eyes and him telling me that i was a good girl and had people who loved me. That made me cry and he just hugged me so tight. After that kind man was sweet to this sad little pudgy girl, I was happy to celebrate Christmas. I dont have any idea how "big" he was but his heart was HUGE!
Just like YOURS!
Bless you for touching those little lives...
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