Live, from Tulsa "2 Shuttling Summer Santa Shirts!"

Friday we're doing a live shot with the local CBS affiliate KUTV-TV channel 2 at from 4:45 to 8:00 AM to promote a Summer Santa promotion at the local franchise of Marble Slab Creamery.

It was originally conceived and the logistics handled by Mike Peer, Ower, President and CEO of MUNCHKINRADIO.COM in cooperation with the Utah Food Bank. As promotions go, it's a pretty standard co-op arrangement. A few things make it interesting (Link to Summer Santa Promotions)

Right now, lets talk about Santa Suits. I have several:

1. The Conventional American Santa Suit popularized by the Coke Ads--red velveteen tunic trimmed in white faux fur long enough to go to mid thigh; red velveteen pants (with very light parachute pants, surprizingly warm, but quick to wash and dry; Black boots adapted from a pair of ten dollar JC Penny boots, with real leather extensions and side zippers with 5 inch wide, white fur tops. The Red Santa Hat with an oversized white fur pom pom at the end of the triangular foldover finish the image on the outside.

We've invested more than $1,000 in this suit alone--but it is authentic down to the leather belt, Wrist Bells, Leather Bag, Colorful courderoy Prop and Toy Bags etc. (Santa's Costume & Prop Accessories)

2. Zork, Santa's Evil Twin Black & Scruffy Suit. We've had two really quality Santa Suits, had sewn by JoAnn Brown at The Costume Closet in Salt Lake City. The first one was dyed black when it was almost completely worn out to costume Wayne Osmond as Zork, Santa's Evil Twin on tour and in Branson Missouri at the Osmond Family Theater. A black wig and whiskers and outlandishly large sunglasses complete the outfit. Because he's the villain of the piece his boots are less stylish than Santa's. Cheap Wellingtons scuffed and dirty--with no fur on top worked for us.

My late, great friend Mel Peterson from Butte, Montana and his talented seamstress wife "willed" a Santa Suit she had sewed for her husband. (A friend in Montana built a plywood "sleigh" for a jeep-- and Santa Mel had a vehicle for outdoor visits in Christmastime Montana
We loaned that wonderful suit out to John Sabourin so many times we willed it on to him. (He is the Santa at the Hogle Zoo. It's payment in advance for helping us with our overloaded schedule now and again.

3. St. Nicholas' (Father Christmas ) Hooded Cape. A dear friend at work bragged to me one day during a break that she could sew anything. I always wanted a truly British "rig" Trouble is the "ideal" fabric she chose-- a rich, deep red upholstery material weighs quite a bit more than the light faux ribless courderoy that my classic Coke Santa tunic is made of. Of course once "built" it had to be lined! I've only worn it a few times--because Santa has to be pretty buff just to wear the silly thing. No wonder those English Father Christmas characters stoop and shuffle--their rig is way to heavy and thick for proper warmth. Carrying it alone is almost too much for an older man. I use it to good advantage by showing up for the "gig" in the Father Christmas hooded cape...and take it off to reveal #4.

4. Summer Santa Gear: Red and White Hybiscus Aloha Shirt and white canvas shorts with white tenny runners. This will be the costume on TV and in the promotion this coming Friday and Saturday.

I've dreamed for years of doing Santa Year round with a green velvet suit, maybe a matching green bowler and a flashy bright red satin tie-- doing promotions

We were at IKEA a couple of weeks ago, out in the parking lot after an hour of browsing the best Swedish gear they had to offer (especially the swedish meatballs). I was wearing a light longsleeve windowpane plaid shirt and my red parachute pants.

A guy and his wife from Idaho came were walking from their car in to the super store as we were coming out....and he shouted a ho Ho HO to me across the steaming pavement. It was a fellow Santa; a bearded chubby guy with a wife, who, like Gramma Rosie, no doubt booked his visits and shared in the process!

We had to stop and visit--and that gaggle of likely Santa's and Santa's helpers was too much for 6 year old Ryan just climbing into his family van. He tugged on his Mamma's shirt and whispered loud enough for us to overhear: "Look! It's HIM!"

It's a "buying signal" and before long I waddled over to his grocery cart and began the North Pole Charm Offensive: (Link to another post)

The mother gave me the key to the Summer Santa Outfit: "He saw your red pants!" That and the beard--'gave me away!" and I vowed then and there to pursue a life long dream: Year 'Round Santa (link to another post) I pulled out every red piece of clothing I had--and I only wear red in public...but for the Summer "gig" I had to have an Aloha Red and White Hibiscus Shirt. We researched them and found the best price on Amazon.com. If you've heard of the movie, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" with young star Amber Tamblin, you get the idea for the title of this blog: Live, from Tulsa: the 'Shuttling Summer Santa Shirts!"

The Internet is a wonderful thing for Sears Roebuck wannabes like Amazon--because once they have your electronic money, they can provide a report on the progress of the delivery of what ever you buy. Here's the tracking itinerary for my two Shuttling Shirts and some guessing on my part about what they did on the trip here:

Track your HAWAIIAN MEN'S CLASSIC FLOWER SHIRT

Date Time Location Event Details

July 28, 2010 10:03:00 AM Salt Lake City UT US Delivered -- Hooray!

Four Hours to hang out at the UPS Station and get a quick nosh before showing up at our house!

July 28, 2010 06:20:00 AM Salt Lake City UT US Arrival Scan

Half an hour for a Continental Breakfast

July 28, 2010 05:53:00 AM Salt Lake City UT US Out for delivery

July 28, 2010 05:53:00 AM Salt Lake City UT US Arrival Scan

Five hours of Starlight Travel over the Rockies - What a view for two Shuttling Shirts

July 27, 2010 12:01:00 AM Commerce City CO US Departure Scan

Spent the night in Colorado - How do you have fun in a warehouse for 8 hours?

July 26, 2010 04:01:00 PM Commerce City CO US Arrival Scan

Hot, dusty travel over the Kansas praries - Thirsty work. Need a Pina Colada

July 26, 2010 07:11:00 AM Salina KS US Departure Scan

Two hours for a Kansas Steak and Egg Breakfast - Big hot journey ahead!

July 26, 2010 04:54:00 AM Salina KS US Arrival Scan

Quick Early Morning hop 'tween Wichita and Salina-- No Hot Sun!

July 26, 2010 02:59:00 AM Wichita KS US Departure Scan

Midnight sleep interrupted for two hours - no mileage just rearranging our package

July 26, 2010 12:48:00 AM Wichita KS US Arrival Scan

Wow--liberated for the road--late night snack -- Launch the Adventure

July 23, 2010 09:07:00 PM Tulsa OK US Departure Scan

Something Good is comin' --We're not on the shelf in the Tulsa warehouse any more!

July 23, 2010 07:09:00 PM Tulsa OK US Shipment received by carrier

We are ALIVE! From idea to order-- Hello, world, Amazon sent us

July 23, 2010 01:20:16 PM US Shipment has left seller facility and is in transit

The future?: A Space Age Santa Suit for delivery throughout the stars; a Buffalo Robe for a giant sleigh (that mounts on a van-- A Space Shuttle that is street legal and includes a Medicine Show-style stage on the back for park visits and outdoor Santa Parties year 'round! the fantasy list goes on and on.. For now, all the traffic and budget will allow is what we have planned and built over the last thirty years of "Elfing"! JWC

Summer Santa Promotions can be Fun & Profitable

A good friend called with an idea for her son's business to do a Summer Santa promotion in cooperation with a new radio station in our area.

I was happy to help--and I don't plan to charge them a nickel! Oh, I'll make some money and build my business, using a technique that sounds a lot like a cushion shot in pool--indirectly.

Here's how it works.

1. BUILD EYE BALL TRAFFIC: I host four commercial blogs and our family communications MUSH fo' U for the Milo S. Howe Familoy Organization. I want to build "eyeball traffic" for these sites so everywhere I go shopping with Gramma Rosie, walking with Tim or "out and about" I find an excuse to gather e-mail addresses. I also find a reason to take a digital picture as a memory association trigger. These all go into my database and each one is a golden prospect--a present and future friend who may hire me to play Santa for a family party or company gathering--or they may become a follower and subscriber to Grampa Training or Teaching Moment Boosters. That depends on their responses to the first wave of e-mail.

2. MARKET WITH A TRIPLICATE OF CHOICE: Between now and Christmas, I begin the e-mail drum beat. The first message gives them a chance to:

a. Come Backstage at the North Pole (BNP) and all it's resources for parents and party hosts to get the most out of a Subordinate Claus. Just launched and building. I'll market it with at least 25-30 posts at the end of August of this year.

b. Take some Grampa in Training (GiT) for Already Grampas, Wannabes and the Grammas who love them. I've been developing this site all Summer and have published 140+ posts of wit and wisdom that will be a good Summer read--or a comfort in the Fall and coming Winter.

c. Pick up some Teaching Moment Boosters (Vitamin TMB) to be prepared to gently share insights in memorable ways (Lots of Object Lessons and little stories on themes)

The return on these marketing campaigns might seem disappointing to some, but if I get more than 1 or 2% it's a BIG Plus. Then I spreadsheet the prospects and build another list with variations on special offers according to preference. Making it possible to take their eyeballs through one of the sites is what it begins to be all about.

3. Pennys per click--and Bucks to Buy: Monetize and keep building. Encourage and train your eyeball traffic to explore everything about the blog they have chosen, especially in clicking the ads

4. Build lthe Reply per Response into a Community of Sharing Dialogue.

5. The Summer Santa Promotion.;

Tough and Talented - Marie Osmond is my HERO!

Marie and Me brushing up on blocking we never used--No matter!

Somebody said once that there are no Heros to Valets--expressing the idea that the closest associates of seemingly great public figures know many of the deepest, darkest secrets of their employer and seem to revere them, somehow less than they are "worshipped" in the world.

A dear friend of more than 20 years and I were on the phone for nearly two hours on Saturday morning when she asked me if Marie Osmond was as good as she seemed to be. I am proud to say as a fellow performer with Marie as Santa in several Network TV Christmas productions and dozens of concert visits over thirty years, I can say with no mental reservation---"YES! Marie is as terrific as her public image... and maybe even better." This is Provo Daily Herald Reporter Pat Christain's picture of a fourteen year old Marie with me as the Old Elf prior to our first ABC Network TV Presentaton of the Donny and Marie Show--(1974) I never washed that knee for months and months afterward.

Her recent rather public coping with a suicide son, a public divorce of her second husband and a potassium deficiency that landed her on the floor on the live broadcast of "Dancing with the Stars" have all intensified a wonderful private image that I hold so dear.

As a single mom (with a good deal of help) raising all of her kids alone, Marie juggles quite a load.

I believe she's better at business than her little brother Jimmy--a more talented singer and performer than any of her brothers including Donny--and a gutsy "broad" who enjoys a good laugh backstage with the crew--while still carrying more than her share of private griefs.

Evidence:

1. My First Meeting up Close in Battle Creek Michigan in 198? (Down to earth freadjustment of her bra as we planned "kid" stragegy.  That one gesture cemented my insider status--signed the adoption papers where Marie was concerned.

2. Milwaukee Walkie Talkie moment with Finny in the theater basement with the Promoter.  Marie came out of her dressing room to the light board where I was getting ready to announce the show and asked Alan Finlinson if he had a check yet from the promoter.  Finny calmly reported,  "Not yet."  Marie with added emphasis said loud enough into the walkie talkie so the promoter could hear her--"You tell him for me that if he doesn't come across with the money in fifteen minutes, we load the busses and head off down the road!"  Finn told me later the guy had put a loaded revolver on the desk and told him they needed to negotiate.  After Marie's serious threat to make good, and the crowd pounding the floor with their feet shouting,  We want the show", the promoter removed the pistol and slid a cashier's check for the entire amount owed across the little desk to Finn.  He got on the walkie talkie and I announced, "And now, the Magic of Christmas, starring Marie Osmond!!!!!  Jerry cranked up the band--and we were underway.  The promoter, "took a bath!"  He had tried to save money, running fewer radio and TV spots than Karl Engeman, Marie's manager had recommended--and ended up with half a house, egg on his face and a big debt.   That night I located one of the little guys we had picked as a Santa-Target the previous year-- and got him on stage again!   All this happened on December 9th, my birthday--with a cake and the Osmonds singing Happy Birthday to me at the 6:00 PM Dinner after the manner of the Russian, YO-oh, HEAVE, HO!  Rosie sent assorted Hickory Farms treats to our hotel room!  Heaven just don't get any better than that!

3. Backstage with all her children riding herd on the family.

4. Down a concourse with little Steven toughening up her son on the way home early the last morning of the tour

5. Sustaining her second husband inspite of inner fights and naysayers

6. Branson Other side of town at Mel Tillis Theater

7. Gracious, cool head with negative evidence from the KGB

8. Forgiveness for First Husband -- and a possible future  (Update from Fall of 2011-  Marie remarried Steve Craig after behind the scenes nudgings from their mutual son.  Tabloid TV noted that Marie wore the same wedding dress she used the first time around.  Husband and wife are reportedly doing much better, thanks!)

9. Real support for all her near and dear

10. Great love for her sweet Mom and Dad--and all the family

Famous Dad loves the Background --Lets Kids Star!

The late, great Provo, Utah radio executive Frank VanWagenen and his wonderful wife Phyllis, arranged for me to come to their home one snowy pre-Christmas evening. Their daughter and her family and, oh yes, her husband (the kids father) Robert Redford were the guests of honor.

Playing, rather becoming Santa for famous people, deserves some special handling. During the decade or so that we began our family in Utah Valley, South of Salt Lake, we parlayed a budding radio career into 30 years as the official Osmond Family Santa, visits to Larry King and this Robert Redford Family encounter---that live in our Santa Memory.

Here's the lesson: Famous People love it when you treat them in their real role as Mom or Dad and give them a break from sucking up all the lime light while you focus on their great kids!

There's a couple more lessons that I'm happy to share about important CREDIBILITY CUES. Watch for them in this memory.

In 1979, Frank and Phyllis lived in the VanWagenen family home-- a stately red brick corner house with lovely stone columns and a huge front lawn--that was covered with thick snow the night we were invited to "entertain".

After nearly six years in "the business" we'd learned a thing or two about developing credibility for Santa in young minds.
CREDIBILITY CUE #1: SANTA RESEARCH - We learned, for example, that Santa forewarned is Santa forearmed. Rosie and Phyllis developed a list of Redford Kids and intimate information --like names of their teachers, good subjects in school, pets and always something they did really well - Sports Championships or Musical Awards - and finally something that each child could do to improve. Picking up the half dozen sopping towels after too long showers is one of my favorites--but complete lists at this point would be way too entertaining!

For example, in 1973 for Donny Osmond's 16th Birthday Party (our first visit to the family) we learned months before the rest of the world that Donny loved Purple Socks.
CREDIBILITY CUE #2: SANTA SILENCE - Instead of a bombastic HO Ho ho! on entering, I've learned to be almost paralyzed in movement and mute. I often start the visit on the lawn in front of a prearranged open window. A few chords on a concertina with my back to the house provokes maximum interest. The hostess is briefed to send one of the older children This "mystic" entrance develops a wonderful curiousity in every small child--and caring adult. Most importantly it calms the crying that is inevitable in very small children at this new and unfamiliar image----craggy face, shaggy beard and bright red suit.
CREDIBILITY CUE #3: SANTA PANTOMIME - Early on I discovered kids really want to try on Santa's own hat and coat--so I built that into a routine that ends with a dozen kids--all in Santa hats with their own rhythm band instrument, with Santa on the piano singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (See Santa's Best Entrance for a complete dialogue and mime strategy)

CREDIBILITY CUE #4: START SLOW - BUILD TO FUN - By beginning the process with Santa appearing (POOF) as if by magic on a snowy front lawn--and appearing to be more fearful than the youngest child, Santa "seems" to be more natural. In a 45 minute visit, Santa has the option to be able to build his performance to a crescendo and leave on a high note.
CREDIBILITY CUE #5: SANTA SITS IN JUDGEMENT WITH A TWINKLE - By this point in the visit Santa has "spoken" I love it when kids whisper, "He DOES speak! He seems to have unthawed from the paralysis and he's wowed them with their favorite song... All these are important part of the Santa Credibility Cues. Most kids desperately want to believe--and a good Santa makes that possible.

True believers shine with a Love that is always reflected in the faces of the caring Adults. One of the little benefits for a Santa who is quick to observe. And absolutely nothing beats the waves of love that rolls over you from a true believer 4-7 year old.

Kids expect to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. Here's some suggestions that will make this part of the visit shine.

1. Pre-arrange Small Gifts with name tags (including their best and worst behaviors) These will become the focus of both this segment and Santa's exit strategy. Dollar store toys are plenty. Make sure the hostess works with the other mothers and get toys that are wrapped in opaque, colorful paper and ribbon. Clear wrapping reveal the mystery of the toy too early. More about that in a moment. A garbage sack with these gifts outside the front door will save all the
2. Grab a Gift and Call the Child up to the front. The lure of the gift will draw even the most hesitant child forward.

3. Using the Tag as a Cue Card--help the child feel good about him/her self ---then move in for the gentle "kill" as you remind a child that he needs to improve. Inviting a child to raise his hand and promise before very friendly witnesses takes the attention off the adult photographers who use this moment on Santa's lap for a memory making picture.
4. Award the Gift with a Warning! Delayed Gratification is both the goal and a practical action for Santa's exit--read on. I tell each child to be sure and WAIT until Everybody Gets one. Most do--and the youngest who can't wait, go ahead and open theirs. Most of the children will wait and fantasize for the last few minutes of the visit about what treasure lies under colorful paper.
5. The Beginning of the End- When everybody has their gift, Santa gets up and stretches...and invites every child in the place to sit in a circle in the middle of the room.

(I've tried it both ways--and generally its wise not to give presents to the Adults in the room. At Adult Parties, inviting half a dozen folks with particularly good stuff on the tag can represent everyone there. Large parties--like a church or big corporate party require different exit strategies.

6. Teaching the Meaning of a Gift - Santa explains that in a few short moments everyone can open their gifts--but first --they should set them down and ponder the giver of the gift--and their gratitude for it.

NOTE: I have decided over more than 30 years of standing in for the Real Claus that I will never again ask what a Child wants for Christmas. The question perpetuates what we have come to call a GIMME Mentality. Instead I will ask if they have anything to tell me. This has led to some very interesting questions--and comments over the years.
7. The Countdown and Misdirected Exit - Santa encourages everyone to count down with him from 5 to 0 and shout Merry Christmas as a signal to open the presents. "Stare at your gifts...and remember that there's more where those came from if you go to bed EARLY on Chrismas Eve! Now, I'd like to invite everyone to count down with me and shout Merry Christmas as a signal to open the presents. Are you staring at your present (Response: YES) OK, Let us Begin tonight's Christmas Countdown, Shout it with me: '5,4,3,2,1 MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!'

At just the moment when every child in the place is focused with ferocious intensity on the unwrapping of the gift, Santa is moving slowly toward the front door--or a back exit, gathering bags and coat and props as he goes. Quietly, with the explosion of unwrapping and fun, he slips away--so that in a few minutes, little ones look up and he seems to have DISAPPEARED!!!

Always park up the street, away from any windows so you can beat it to the car and drive away with the lights off and make the final exit strategy complete!
OPTION 1 - The "Go Look for the Reindeer" Exit Strategy - Kent Flowers and his wife are the parents of a University of Texas graduate student in trombone performance. I've visited there for decades--and even though she knows "the truth" about me and what I do, she has come to look forward every year to doing what I'm about to share with her sweet Mom.

Instead of using little gifts, I've used this gambit to get the kids out of the room so I can make a leisurely get away!

"How would you like to see a reindeer fly?" I'll ask. Every kid and some of the adults show their interest and enthusiasm. "OK," I continue. "In just a few minutes I'm going up on the roof and climb into my sleigh. If you would like to watch the lift off, you need to go to a Bedroom that faces NORTH! Which bedroom in this house faces NORTH?" (or EAST or WEST etc. anywhere away from the street where you've parked the car)

"Is that Gramma and Grampa's bedroom? Is it OK for the family to gather at your bedroom window (Response: OF COURSE!)........(pause) Well, what are you waitin' for? I can't believe you're not already there!" Watch the stampede begin.

A former boss went into the room with his kids to see how I would handle it, thinking I would shoot off some roman candles or something. He practically ruined the effect when a faraway plane flew over, flashing it's red light. "Look, dad," a younger child shouted-- "There's Rudolph's nose." My boss shut the kid down--saying, "Naw, that's just a plane!" Some adults can really spread a wet blanket on the preceedings! JWC

Dress the Part and they WILL come!

Earlier this week I climbed into the coolest red pants I own--a light, bright red pair of parachute pants, which, alas you can't buy any more. Coming out of the IKEA superstore a man from Idaho and his wife who had played Santa a time or two caught my ear with a friendly HO-Ho-ho!

I had to stop and visit about our mutual passion---with laughter and good memories of those special moments when a true believer showers the man he truly believes is Santa with Love and waves of wonderful belief. Such giving and receiving high points are pay days. They can become addictive.

As we were talking about just that experience--a post toddler/pre-tween named Ryan--at the maximum age of belief --about 6, across the parking aisle began to point with excitement in our direction. Not one but two bearded old fat guys--one in red pants---well the Love began to flow again--and I waddled over to ply "our trade".

Just as Summer had begun, I made a sacred vow to myself to "BECOME" Summer Santa--right down to the red pants and a colorful red and white Hawaiian Aloha shirt.

Yesterday I dug into my SANTA section of a long pole of costumes and came up with a wonderful light solid red polo shirt to go with the light pants--and I was ready for the day. Here's a couple of step by step suggestions about how to handle the true believers and their folks during your day to day shopping.

1. Always be aware and Make Eye Contact with a Wink! Most 6-8 year olds are just like you--tired of following their folks around--and near the end of the day, they are cranky and wanna go HOME! (Trust me, they have a lot in common with YOU) They are looking for diversion--escape, anything that will lift them out of the drugery of going with Mom and doing the dreaded shopping!

2. Your REAL Beard and red clothes will ATTRACT ATTENTION! These little refugees WANT to believe. Many of them are already snuggling in the tired mamma's arms--and they are looking for a way out. Suddenly you show up. It isn't hard for them to make the leap to believe. Like you, they are constantly testing--and they LOVE it when you WINK. The thought in their tired little brains, "This could be the REAL ONE!"

3. Make your outreach Subtle AT FIRST. An off hand comment about how much faster the self service soda machines are at the North Pole etc. etc. will seal the deal. Though you may use many of the techniques of a street mime or birthday party clown....the early going must be slow.

4. Sometimes just going about your business will attract a curious, caring Mother. This is what happened yesterday. Gramma Rosie had overheated and we were sitting at an indoor picnic table at Sam's Club working through polish dogs and sodas, when I looked way up to the beginning of the line. A young mother dressed up casually in a tailored light shirt and trimmed levis was trying not to stare. I don't believe I even acknowledged her---but I sensed she could be as curious as her kids. This is when the "visit" starts; a golden moment--when a mom, with a little imagination see's some FREE entertainment for her little family and tentatively edges over. (I've seen timid kids nudge their Mom with an, "Go ahead, Ask him!" The good Moms create the good Santa experience with their own initiative.

She is careful, as this mother was, but --if everything lines up, she will give you the golden keys to her family. (This is the BEST way to start--very similar to the technique I've polished on the road with the Osmonds at Cesar's Palace in Atlantic City and theaters across the country.) The Dad in these situations is just like you--enduring the Mom with all the Love and self control he can muster. He's playing Prince Phillip to her Queen Elizabeth--but just like the kids, he wants back into control at HOME!!!!

5. Get the Mom to tell you something about her best Believer--out of Earshot! Her true believer was a gap toothed six year old beauty--a sweet blonde named Skylar. That alone was enough. Skylar (great spelling, eh?) couldn't help herself. She and an older Sister named Sage (8) and little brother, Braxton (4) were munching pizza with hopes of Home with their young plumber Dad two tables behind me. The mom started to introduce me to her second child when I blurted out-- "Oh, Skylar----it's been a while, eh?" You know you've made contact when the kid looks confused with that, "He must be real...he KNOWS MY NAME!!!!!! This is the first of what can be those truth reinforcing moments. (On stage I come armed with things like pet's name and favorite teachers--best accomplishments---and sure knowledge of their little pecadillos) These become cues to belief--and can be handled easily enough in engaging conversation.

6. Focus on the True Believer! You've likely heard that wonderful advice from one of Santa's great patron Saints--Mark Twain:, "Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt. Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth. That's what this golden moment is--a private audience with the Man Himself. My great friend, James Arrington, the head of the theater and cinematic arts program at Utah Valley University calls me the Mystic Santa for the way I show up quietly at his house...and let his kids "discover me" at their window. The effect is so powerful! James told me once that he believes that Santa is a "bridge character" to a small child---that if God were to appear on earth, for quick acceptance in our culture, he might appear as a jolly man in a white beard. Some responsibility, yes?

Make this a memorable, fun experience that teaches and gives the child something very special as a tangible cue`.

Grow Your Own--or just FAKE IT!

Over the last 30 plus years of donning the cap and bells, I've tried (Rather unsuccessfully) to grow my own Santa Wig and Whiskers. At one job, the boss passed me a hint in a staff meeting accompanied with gentle laughter from my co-workers that he couldn't figure out whether I was doing an impression of a homeless person or Otis, the town drunk who would lock himself in Andy Taylor's Mayberry town jail for the weekend on the Andy Griffith show.

As you can see, I've made a lot of progress -- and in retirement, with no boss to make gentle fun--I'm prospering.

I was once cast as Wilford Woodruff at the LDS Church Conference Center Theater less for my acting skills than for my willingness to have a beard.

I was in the local IKEA parking lot when a guy down from Idaho shouted a big HO Ho ho across the parking lot. He was way too thin to have played the role with enough JOLLY--but he had a closely trimmed white beard...and we had a good laugh together. I think it was the whiskers and my red parachute pants. As we were Clausing it up on one side of the row, on the other a tired toddler perked up--saw me and put the beard and pants together and got a vision of presents to come. "Look, mommy! It's Him!!!" My Santa buddy had just finished giving me his e-mail (I always collect those precious addresses one by one where ever I go with little notes alongside)

My radar is always up for parking lot encounters....and I waddled over for a pre-christmas visit.

Friends who have played the old elf once in a while always are amazed at what happens to them when the genuine belief washes over them in near tangible waves of Love! It happened this hot July week day--as we almost shook hands (You can't really shake hands with the Spirit of Christmas, y'know!) and I ripped a little page out of my mobile journal and drew my signature Santa Caricature in green ink!

"Now, you know, Ryan" I concluded, "if you treasure my picture and put it under your pillow-- when you go to bed early on Christmas Eve--the next morning you can expect a Big Surprise!" I glanced at the enchanted mom to see if she got it. Oh, she did! And I turned on my heel, waving and hurried back to where Gramma Rosie was waiting in our hot car! She is so patient.

What works for you, "On the road?" Share with all of us who read this posting, in the blank below! JWH