We attempt an annual pilgrimage to a local mall during this
festive time of year for one reason. It's not the myriad of
stores. It's not the huge crowds that are packed like grunion
milling from one storefront to the next. It's not the mall's
multi-tiered dual parking garages (although that /is/ a positive).
No. It's much more simple than that.
Santa.
And not just one of the many Santa's helping jolly Ol' St. Nick in
his appointed duties. This is **THE** Santa Claus straight from
that wondrous movie, "Miracle on 34th Street."
We've been taking Daughter-units Alpha and Beta to see him since
their first Christmas at 3 month old. He's a bear of a man -- huge
-- but as gentle as a craftsman of porcelain dolls. He exudes
charisma and charm. His confidence in mastering even the most
difficult child is magical. My daughter-units took to him without
so much as a blink of an eye. There have been hiccups, to be sure,
-- those last minute jitters children exhibit as they realize that
Santa knows their most hidden secrets -- along the way but none so
insurmountable¹ that we've had to miss a single year's snap shot.
This year, without fail, Santa magically appeared for the waiting
Throngs-O'-Kids. Daughter-unit Beta, long since over her fear of
the Man-in-Red, pranced and pirouetted in line. Daughter-unit
Alpha demurely stood by SWMBO's side, holding her hand. Spawn
pranced and danced, jittered and jumped to her unknown beat,
singing back at the chorus of special echoes.
As we approached, the gate opened.
The three girl-units entered Santa's chamber, instantly putting
forth their best manners reserved only for special occasions.
Santa voice softly rose from some deep cavern, "Welcome! What have
we here?"
"This is my sister. This is my other sister. And I'm me," D-uA
helpfully supplied.
"And so they are, [Alpha]."
The gasp from all three forced me to turn away. (My little brain
surgeon had forgotten that her name was embroidered on the front
of her jacket.)
"Have you all been good? Of course you have... Here. Sit down.
Let's have Santa's helpers take a picture to remember the fun
we're having."
Spawn sat up straight, smiled impishly, and then set her head
against his chest. It's was a shame that D-uB chose that very
moment to look ceiling-ward as the camera flashed but that's Real
Life® when you've got that one Kodak moment...
Detailed lists were provided through hushed whispers, smiles and
claps. Spawn, still at that curious age of exploring through
touch, gently stroked Santa's beard. As if some mental command had
been given, all three dropped from Santa's lap and turned to give
him a hug. As they left, he reminded each about their promise to
be good and handed them all a special mask. As they received their
masks, each thanked him. We were about to leave when Daughter-unit
Alpha walked back and looked at him. "See you next year."
ObFood: Schezuan chicken and steamed rice.
The Ranger
¹ One year, SWMBO² got to sit with Santa -- and that proved to
Daughter-unit Beta that, even though he was big and red and
bearded, he was safe. D-uA's always thought of him as her own live
Teddy Bear.
² http://www.cs.umbc.edu/~schott/rumpole/references/she.html