Yes, Virginia

December. It’s here. It’s cold outside. The snow decided to tough it out. The parades are done and the lists are made and the parking lots at the shopping centres are full. The Sally Ann bells are ringing (maybe even at the Eaton Centre) and the CAS Angels are on the tree. The Food Bank shelves are waiting for our donations. It’s December. The holiday season is heading our way.

For several years I have written about my firm belief in Santa Claus. I do believe in Santa Claus, but not the shopping mall Santa or the Christmas card Santa or the Santa in the songs and stories, nope. Put the idea of a red suited, fluffy bearded, shiny-black-booted and the sleigh-full-oftoys- commandeering Santa right out of your mind. For that matter, drop the notion of a jolly old elf who delivers gifts to the children of world in one evening. I have been writing about the Santa Claus we can become, if we choose. Maybe I wasn’t very articulate in years gone by because several people have asked me if I really believe I am Santa then why don’t I dress like Santa (being built like Santa obviously isn’t enough). So, here’s the “this” about “that” about the real Santa Claus I know I am. Santa Claus, the real one, is always cleverly disguised. If you choose to be the real Santa you get to wear the comfy blue jeans and a tee shirt or, well, whatever. Wearing something comfortable makes the job of being Santa much easier and less distracting to others who might not want to believe or perhaps aren’t ready to believe and take on the role of Santa. We all have the potential to be Santa—in December or year-round.

I didn’t believe in Santa or even know I could be Santa until about 10 years ago and, like most adults, I hadn’t believed since my childhood. Christmas had become one big headache and rush of shopping, baking, cooking, entertaining and dread. At the time, I needed to get my mind into a better place and climb out of the dumpster my career had fallen into. My good friend Susan more or less hinted I might consider getting off my whiny arse and helping her with the CAS Angel Campaign. Well, she was a bit more polite than that and she made it sound like it could be fun. She even promised I’d feel better if I helped her. Ho Ho Ho. I wasn’t sure if I was going to fall for it, but stranger things had happened. At the time, Susan was the chief angel in the annual CAS campaign, my good friend, former co-worker; and more than anything else, she needed people to physically sort, pack, wrap, and deliver hundreds of gifts to dozens and dozens of CAS Angels in the County. Ya, what the heck, I could do that. I was out of work and had time on my hands. I had some thinking to do and maybe I could get a bit of thinking done while I helped. Sorting, packing, wrapping and delivering was going to keep my mind occupied. I wasn’t prepared for what really happened. Nobody said anything about the heavy lifting, or how cold the storage area was, or how many people we would deal with in a day—people who had children and only enough money for the basics and not enough for Christmas. A real Santa brought gifts to all kids, no matter what their family circumstances were. It was on one of those days, while thanking a couple for their donation to the CAS Angel Campaign, that I realized I was actually thanking real, honest-to-goodness saints of the Santa Claus variety. I knew then and there what becoming Santa would entail.

In a caring community, like Prince Edward County, the opportunities to become the Santa (the one you knew you could be) are all around us. Think about making a donation to the food bank in Picton or the Storehouse Foodbank in Wellington. Pick an Angel off the CAS tree at the Angel Office in Picton and make Christmas happen for a County kid. Drop a buck or two or 10 into the Salvation Army kettle. Put a loonie in a parking meter in Picton or in Belleville during the month of December, all of the money goes to fuel the Food For Learning programs. Buy a Christmas tree from a firefighter—great folks supporting great causes. Shovel a neighbour’s driveway or bake them a bunch of cookies. Shop and dine locally (tip like you’re on the receiving end). Create a brand new holiday tradition with your friends, your partner or your family.

“Believing in Santa is as difficult as believing in yourself.” What the H E double candy canes, you can do it.