THE SANTA CLAUSE: In putting on the suit and entering the sleigh, the wearer waives any and all right to any previous identity, real or implied, and fully accepts the duties and responsibilities of Santa Claus, in perpetuity to which some time the wearer becomes unable to do so, by either accident or design. And here we are now nearing the end of my mission this year. And what a year it has been. 2014. The year I finally figured out what it was I was supposed to do. Mom tells the story of how excited I used to be on Christmas Eve. She said I couldnt get to sleep because I was waiting up to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus. I believed so whole heartedly that I would see some kind of evidence. And yet I never did. That kid was lost to time and to the realities of this world. He eventually found out that his parents were wrapping the gifts and hiding the toys. He found out that the world wasnt as simple as STAR WARS and SUPERMAN and G.I. JOE and TRANSFORMERS. The world was somehow sad. And it was cruel. And so he escaped. I escaped. I hid in the movie theater. I went to worlds that werent like ours. In the movies the good guys won. They got the girl. The bad guy went to jail. And so instead of emulating sports stars like so many of my friends, my heroes were characters. And they were the actors that brought those characters to life. So I became an actor. I learned everything I needed to know to hide somewhere on the stage. To keep just enough of me hidden away not to get hurt and not to face the realities of this world. And then nine seasons ago I took on the ultimate role. Santa Claus. The role of my lifetime. And over the years it started to take its toll on me. I kept trying to figure out how best I could serve my community. I continued on for a long time confined to one location. Families would come to me year after year and make me their Holiday tradition. But something happened along the way. A chain of events. 2012. Aurora happened. Sandy Hook happened. The innocence of children was being taken away by horrible people. And to me the world didnt seem the same anymore. My life seemed frivolous up to that point. I wanted to find a way to make a difference. To do good as my actual job. And thats when The Mayor had the idea of me becoming a Safety Officer. To become a symbol. To help people. Thats also when the idea of Santa Claus became more important to me. And thats when I knew I had to leave the area I was confined to and find other places that needed me. Thanks to so many of you, I was able to purchase a movie-quality Santa Claus suit. That suit first allowed me to be a Sensory Santa for children with Autism. Im glad I was one of the first ones in this area to do that. And Im so glad I was able to do it again this year. This year was bigger and better with professional photography that was donated for free to the parents of the Autism Support Team of Pulaski County. Nobody had to pay for a photo. Then there was SHOP WITH A COP at Walmart. My coworkers at the Somerset Police Department helped area kids have a much better Christmas. And as I looked around the store, I saw so many children I never saw at The Mall. And then it dawned on me. I realized the next leg of my mission. Go where the most people are. And go where the need is the greatest. And I was so right. This has been a magical season for me. Moving my Santa Claus experience to Walmart was the best idea Ive had in a very long time. But I could not have done it alone. Without the vision of Courtney Brooke with Red Shutter Studios, none of this would have been possible. I would have been just another guy in a big red suit. Without the foresight of Allen Adcock of Walmart, we would not have been able to bring you such a unique vision of Santa Claus this year. As many of you know, Im giving away everything I make as Santa this year. It will go to The Rotary Club to help get stuffed animals into the hands of those that need them the most. They will go to sick kids at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital. A child is much more responsive to treatment in the Emergency Room if theyre holding on to a new cuddly friend. Im telling you all of this because this is the first year I truly feel like Santa Claus. This is the first time I feel like Im doing what Im supposed to do on this Earth. This is my mission. Not just to give but to inspire others to give. I think thats why all of us are here. Money is not my focus as Santa Claus. My focus is on the experience of the child. I want to see the smiles on the faces of so many happy parents. So we take the time. We take care to listen. We treat each child like they are the most important child in the world. Because that child is. I hope the Rotary Club is happy with what Im able to give and what we inspired others to give. I feel like this year has been a complete and total success. So much so that I know Ill do this again next year. And all the years that you allow me to do this. Im Santa Forever. Thank you for believing in me... SANTA CLAUS WILL RETURN
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 15:40:41 +0000
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