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HO HO HO
It’s that time of year again. The last column for this year and Jingle Bells all in the same space! I’m not what you’d call a religious person, but I believe in a good miracle and in Santa Claus. I was a grown-up, non-believer when about twenty years ago I read a marvellous book. How to be Santa Claus was written by Nick Kelsh and published in 2001. Perhaps, Mr. Kelsh felt the same way as I did, at that time. The year 2001 wasn’t for me, or for my career, and I was feeling as if all of the goodness and kindness had crumbled away. I really needed to find something to make me feel better about myself. I remember, as I thumbed through the book, being struck by the words, “You are Santa Claus when you decide to be the person you have always been.” And, “Santa Claus is well disguised.” In that moment, I knew the book was coming home with me and I was going to be a well-disguised Santa Claus.
When I purchased that book in 2001 I had no idea how the words of Nick Kelsh would affect me. I kinda thought I would give the book a read then pass it along to someone, as a joke. But I kept the book. Like I said, 2001 was very difficult for me, personally. I was looking for a lifeline, some kind of meaning but something was missing. I had no idea that darn book would inspire me. A few of my closer friends had suggested a trip, a joint and a glass of wine would sort me out. I was smart enough to know I’d just come back from those adventures and be as bewildered as I ever was. It was my friend Susan who sort of invited me to help out, as a volunteer, in an angelic kinda way at the Angel Office. And so I did. I volunteered with Susan and her band of Angels and Elves. As it turned out, it was something I was missing in my life. I could hardly control my own “almost-out-of-control life” and Susan wanted me to volunteer to help other people. The whole world—mine at least —was a big bowl shelled nuts without a nutcracker. By Christmastime in 2001 I was out of work, thumbing through a DYI book about becoming Santa Claus and my Nutcracker of a friend pressed me into the work of putting other people first.
“Being Santa can transform your December —if not your life.”
And so I helped out at the CAS Angel Office that December. I didn’t do office things, but I sorted through hundreds of gifts. I was given a list and I got to check it twice to make sure each of the Angels received the gifts intended for them. I met some wonderful people that year. I helped prepare the holiday food hampers. I filled bags with jelly beans, gumdrops and chocolates. I drank a lot of Timmies and I likely ate too many candy canes. At the end of the day I went home exhausted, but as each day passed I felt better because I wasn’t brooding. As the days flew by, the little white paper CAS Angels slowly disappeared from the tree at the Angel Office. I don’t remember where the office was that year, but let’s just say that since the rent was free the locale wasn’t exactly a Hallmark movie location. I had had it in my mind if it weren’t picture perfect it couldn’t be Christmas. As a matter of fact, after the first afternoon in that “office” I just wanted to curl up into a ball and sleep through the HO HO HOs and all that tinselly stuff. But I am a lifelong learner and a bit stubborn. And I wanted to be a better version of me.
During those 2001 December evenings I read and re-read the book, and during the day I did my “time” at the Angel Office. I felt as if I could become a Santa —the Santa. And, while I can’t make any one person or organization see the Santa thing the way I now do, I will just go ahead and make this suggestion. If you think you couldn’t possibly dislike The Festive Season more or couldn’t squeeze one more person onto your List because of all of the baking, shopping, cleaning, wrapping that needs doing—STOP. Take a great big breath. Put all of your personal coal into a decorative container and think outside of the little box you live in. It isn’t about Santa Claus at Christmastime, it’s about how to be Santa Claus. Santa Claus isn’t the tired looking fellow at the Mall. Santa isn’t the guy in the worn-out, faux velvet suit in a parade. Santa is a product of your heart. Santa looks for ways to be thoughtful. Santa is generous. Santa is so unbelievable he’s believable. And Santa laughs at Santa. Being Santa is a full-time job. There isn’t a break once you’ve decided to be Santa.
“Being Santa is being someone else. That someone else is you.”
Thank you, Nick Kelsh, and HO HO HO.
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