A woman ushering 5 kids around, all in their holiday "picture clothes" was one of the first groups in line. They must have been in the mall awhile, as the kids were in various states of mind. One crying, two with strong fidgeting tendencies and the others just looked tired. Not the best sitting, but we made do.
And then, she added two more kids to the mix!
Two women, somewhere in there late twenties showed up today, herding a group of 8 kids. This group , like many others was just a bunch of high energy kids.
After a couple of initial shots, while the Big Guy was chatting with the kids, I turned to one of the one of the women to ask what the make up of the group was - siblings, cousins friends?
The kids in ages from 6 to about 13.
She replied
said those two are mine. We are fostering the rest.
All I could say is thanks for making these kids life better.
What happened today:
A family with six kids 12 and under.
Eight MATURE Indian women giggling like school girls while taking photos with Santa.
New Elves - Icey and Twinkles( always interesting).
A group of women from Iceland, one taking a photo with Santa to " show her husband". Regulations don;t allow for a photo, but she really liked Santa!
Camera issues!!!!
And then.......................
And then when I get home, I find out 3 people were seriously injured in attack in one of the MOA anchor stores toward the end of our business day.
Please excuse me, but WTF is going on?
In the daily flow of kids through Santaland we get a huge
range of ages.
range of ages.
This year, we had a "mature" and very spry woman of 90,
and a WWII vet, well in that range but who didn't give an
exact number of years.
and a WWII vet, well in that range but who didn't give an
exact number of years.
The youngest visited yesterday with her big brother about
three o'clock..
three o'clock..
When asked about her age, her Dad chimed that she was
1 week, looked at his watch and said "and two hours".
1 week, looked at his watch and said "and two hours".
On the age thing, unless someone has a surprise in the line, 2 days old on the young end will be a tough one to beat,
The 97 year old WWII veteran will stand for a while as well.
Recently, I finished reading a compilation of James Herriot 's stories about a country veterinarian in rural England back in the 1940's and 50's.
Brought back memories from the Wheels and Boards days
in Green Bay, with Wisconsin public radio's "Chapter a Day" program covering his books playing in the background.
in Green Bay, with Wisconsin public radio's "Chapter a Day" program covering his books playing in the background.
Some of the stories include recounting this Veterinarian taking his young children on rounds in the daily routine of his practice in the English countryside.
Fast forward to the young boy of about 4 sitting with Santa yesterday.
I tend to hang back a few feet while Santa is getting the "important" gift wishes from his guest, checking on how
things are school and such.
things are school and such.
I saw Santa's face turn a bit perplexed, eyebrow raised on one side and the grin he was trying to contain. After all, all requests are from the heart of the child and are taken very seriously.
While this was going on, I chatted with the parents finding out they were a country family from out state Minnesota. They knew what the little boy was asking Santa for, and were working with neighbors to secure it, a bit of a timing thing.
In all the Santa request's in his history, never had anyone ask him before for a sheep, a real live sheep........
"with a baby in it's belly".
Dr. Herriot would have been proud of this lad!
Side note: This little guy needs your thoughts and wishes as he is headed for another( the 5th) medical procedure to determine what is causing his health issues. which has even the doctors at Mayo Clinic perplexed.
When I hit the Santaland set I have a bit of a routine.
I turn on the photo lights, grab the sweeper and tidy up a bit and then take a walk around the outside of the space. Not sure what I am looking for, just checking to make certain things are in order.
Yesterday("Black Friday") was no different. I was on my walk around the set, sizing up the line waiting to see the big guy. There was a group of people, all in the same t shirts with a family holiday theme. I inquired with one of the adults in the group if they were heading into the set for photos, and I identified myself as the photographer. He directed me to the patriarch of the group.
"We have seventeen for pictures". "Our group for next year will be 29 people". Youngest was about 6 and, along with the patriarch was "Grandma" in a wheel chair , wearing a surgical mask.
WOW.
In four years of taking photos with Santa, the largest group was about 12 as I recall.
I talked to the folks behind this group, explaining that it would be a bit of a delay as we captured all the photos. Assuring them that they would get plenty of time with Santa, they seemed appreciative of the alert.
One of our favorite "elves", Egg Nog (aka James) was on the set. A pro elf if ever there was one. I gave him the low down, so he was able to answer the questions of why the line might be moving so slowly.
The photo shoot went well, and one man took charge of arranging the various groups of family members. I shot over 100 images. Every shot had Grandma and Grandpa in them, sitting in the big chair, flanking Santa..
All the family had moved toward the retail part of the set, and I saw "Grandma", waiting for here chair, talking with Santa.
With her safely in her chair, and wheeled out. We took a breath to compose ourselves before the next group came in.
"Are you ready?" I asked Santa.
"Just wanted you to know that Grandma whispered to me she is hoping she will be with the family for next years photos".
Catch your breath.
Compose yourself and say " Come on in " to the next in line waiting to share there holiday wishes .
The subtle actions Santa takes with each child never cease to amaze me. Changing gears on each new face he encounters, whether boisterous and silly, or more quiet and subdued.
Case in point, we were chatting during a lull in the the action on the set yesterday. Santa commented that he was encountering many more children with medical devices on their bodies coming to visit.
There were at least three kids that had tubing running their clothing yesterday, and one young guy with a backpack his mother said was his feeding system the day before.
Santa mentioned that he pays particular attention to these devices and their routing, as "you never know what is flowing through them".
The photos will not show any difference, and I have never really noticed either. His attempt to create a bit of magic for child is noteworthy. Communicative or not.
The fact that medicine today can mainstream a child, one who may have had to be secluded away, tethered to a host of bulky machines is a testament to this. Every youngster deserves to be treated to the experiences of being a kid.
And then yesterday....................
One of our first families into the set had two children, an infant and his older sister. The girl climbed into the chair, and her dad gently placed the little boy into Santa's trusting hands.
The mother spoke to me, and the little girl to Santa about the this child, and why he was wearing a surgical mask. Santa and I caught each others eyes and both realized that we had to hold it together to get through this one.
While the family had come to grips with this scenario, we had to process it all in short order.
You see, this tiny body was a survivor.
At 40 days old, he had received a BMT(Bone Marrow Transplant), and this was his 67th day of life following the procedure - this little guy was all of 107 days old, and been through more than most of us are fortunate enough to not see in a lifetime.
Oh yes, the Mom said this guy was getting stronger, and the fact that he was in such a public place gave insight into the transplant being a success.
Normally, the next visitor allows us a refocus, although I believe that Santa needed a bit longer to get back into the groove after this tiny visitor and his big sister.
I know it took me awhile.
December 4th, 2017
Some kids are just jerks!
There I said it.
We had two boys about 11 and 13 come into the set recently.
As he does, Santa assesses his approach in a few seconds, and usually leads with the universal "high five".
The older boy lead off with a full swing at the open hand, missed and the younger one tried the same.
Santa able to pull back just in time in both cases.
The boys jumped into the chair and began verbally challenging
Santa on a variety of things that should be the fun part of a
"Visit with Santa" experience.
Santa on a variety of things that should be the fun part of a
"Visit with Santa" experience.
Santa bantering back and forth with them for a bit, trying to
build some rapport and get some type of positive interaction started.
build some rapport and get some type of positive interaction started.
They were stepping on each others verbal blasts to see who could
ask the most stupid (in my opinion) questions while being the
loudest at the same time. I could see the older boy moving his face
closer and closer to the big guy, Santa retreating his.
ask the most stupid (in my opinion) questions while being the
loudest at the same time. I could see the older boy moving his face
closer and closer to the big guy, Santa retreating his.
The tension was building.
Santa, ever the professional, continued to ask the appropriate questions
as he does of every kid. Then the older boy was asked what he wanted
for Christmas.
as he does of every kid. Then the older boy was asked what he wanted
for Christmas.
His retort -- "EVERYTHING" , loud enough to be heard throughout the set.
Immediately, Santa turned to the younger of the two, with the same
question. While I didn't hear this answer, Santa abruptly finished the conversation this pair and said to them -
question. While I didn't hear this answer, Santa abruptly finished the conversation this pair and said to them -
"I'll see what I can do".
Handed them a magic coin, and brushed them off the set, clearly a bit
agitated by this whole encounter. A sour look and raised eyebrow
spoke volumes.
agitated by this whole encounter. A sour look and raised eyebrow
spoke volumes.
My assumption would be that most parents would have been mortified
by their children's behavior, I know my wife and I would have.
by their children's behavior, I know my wife and I would have.
Not in this instance. The parents of these two "children" were standing
behind me, laughing(loudly and continuously)and thoroughly enjoying
their kids schtick.
behind me, laughing(loudly and continuously)and thoroughly enjoying
their kids schtick.
It seems they really got nothing( other than their parents approval) out
of this episode, while showing their lack of respect of an another.
of this episode, while showing their lack of respect of an another.
We certainly didn't.
Really, why bother queuing in line for 45 minutes for that kind of
performance?
performance?
"Next in line"..........
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