My First Day as the Liberty Fair Mall Santa

I started as Santa at the loca Mall, Liberty Fair Mall, Martinsville, VA. today. I had wanted to do this for about 4 years every since I grew my first Santa beard.

It was a strange mixture of happiness and sadness. The kids all wanted to tell me what they wanted for Christmas. They seemed to want more than you can give in a few minutes. It brought the therapist out in me and I wanted to talk with them, but of course that was not possible.

One girl seemed bright and I did get to say a few things that I hope lets her enjoy what she can do in the world she finds herself in, while she can deal with all of its troubles. There was a boy whose younger brother seemed to be autistic. He seemed to be able to deal very well with him, I treid to be encouaging.

Two girls broutht handwritten lists of what they wanted. Another girl gave me a present of a small santa claus, another brought me a note she had written thanking me, and clarifying what she wants for Christmas.

It was diffiuclt to say what the kids would get, I sort of settled on telling them I would work on it, and so would their parents, and that they had to work on it by being good. I tried to give them some reasonalbe expectations by saying that my sleigh could only hold so much and if they wanted a girft that was difficult to get or very expensive, I said something like, those are hard to find, and I may or may not be able to get one.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Poppy Claus.