Tis the season

Santa doing carriage rides last year, it was COLD!

     I guess with Thanksgiving officially behind us the Christmas holiday is now in sight. In fact I had my first official Santa of the season last night. I actually traveled across the border to East Palestine, OH for a family party with about 10 kids. It's been a year since I put on my suit and beard and yet it felt so comfortable. I have been playing Santa for about 20 years and I have loved every minute of it.

     There is something about putting on that suit and beard that is so magical. The suit in particular is very special because it was made by my mom. She not only designed it, but sewed the entire suit and every time I put it on I think of her, it's like she's hugging me. The suit is unlike any other I've seen and many say that it's how they imagine Santa should be. I feel authentic and you know, when I get dressed it's almost as if I really become Santa. As soon as I put on my beard my voice even changes. Santa is more than a suit and beard, it's a feeling. 

     There is something so incredible about being a part of the magic of Christmas. Having a child look in your eyes with wonder and excitement and share their innermost wishes and thoughts. It's amazing what a child will share with Santa.

     There was one time in particular when I was at an elementary school that a child sat on my lap and when I asked him what he wanted for Christmas and what happened next broke my heart. He leaned in real close and he asked me if I could get his father to stop hitting him and his mom. I tried to wrap my brain around what he said and I asked him again. By now he was getting a little emotional and started to hug me even tighter. My heart sank and I now I was not only concerned for this little tyke but my heart was breaking and I started to well up with tears. At this moment I held him tight and asked him in a quiet conversation between just the two of us, "Do you mean your dad swats you for being bad?" He said "No he gets mad and hits my mom and I." I hugged him and looked in his eyes and said I will do what ever I can to protect you and your mom. He smiled and said thank you Santa, I love you. At this point it was like someone had hit me in the stomach although I had to push through and be a happy Santa for all of the other children.

     When all the children were done with their lists and we sang a few songs I said my goodbyes and headed for the door. I called the PTO chairwoman over and told her what I had been told and pointed out the child who said it. She shook her head and said the father was known to be a hot head and not only that he was on the school board!  I told her to please see what she could do to get them help and to keep me in the loop.  I couldn't get that little boy out of my thoughts throughout the holiday and finally heard from the woman from the school telling me that the father was served with papers to stay away from the mother and son and that they were fine. I was so relieved to hear that he was safe. Evidently the father had been like this in the past and the mother was afraid to say anything because she feared for her and her son's life. To me it was a Christmas miracle. 

      I have been asked all kinds of questions through the years and I can honestly say that I've never had a child pee while on my lap and although there has been the occasional crier I have a pretty good track record of getting even the most hesitant child to come and say hi and most of the time I even get them to sit and smile for a picture. I think it's because I love playing Santa. It's not just a job, it's so much more. I want to make a difference and I try to create a special memory for each child. I would like to think I've even do that for some adults.


Santa at The Pine Community Center

     Last year I was invited to do the breakfast with Santa for a local community center and after visiting all of the children individually and getting pictures taken I asked the woman in charge to gather all of the children together. She was kind of puzzled but she did as requested and I had a sea of smiling faces sitting on the floor in front of me. I talked a little about the North Pole and took a few questions and then talked to them about being good not just around Christmas but all year long. Then I asked if they liked to sing. A cheer rang through the room and I said "How about Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer?" They said yeah!  We sang a rousing rendition of the song with some of the typical echoes that kids throw in. Then I asked if they wanted to sing it how the elves do it at the North Pole. I explained that instead of singing the word nose they would point to their nose and instead of singing reindeer they would make reindeer antlers. The kids had a lot of fun and even the parents seemed to enjoy the added fun to the breakfast with Santa. The person in charge followed me out of the room as I ho, ho, ho'd my way out the door. She was so happy and said how much everyone enjoyed my visit and what a surprise the singing was. She immediately scheduled me for this year. She later wrote a note to me and this is what she said:

"Ron was a fantastic Santa and I have heard nothing but great things about him and the event! Ron was like the "real" Santa! You could tell that he has a true love and passion for what he does. I was blown away when he told me he wanted to do something special for the kids and gathered all the kid's together to sing a few Christmas carols together and remind them to be such good little boys and girls all year.  He truly made our Breakfast with Santa magical and I couldn't let him leave without booking him for next year. He embodies the true spirit of Christmas!"  -- M. Quail (Township of Pine Community Center, Wexford, PA)

    Watching the Holiday parades on TV and seeing Santa always reminds me of my mom. When I was young the local fire department would bring the fire truck up on Christmas Eve with the lights going and Santa would be hanging onto the side giving out stockings to the neighborhood kids. When we would hear the sirens we knew they were on their way. My mom's reaction when she saw Santa was AWESOME! Here was a grown woman jumping around and yelling, "It's Santa, It's Santa!" She was so excited and it was infectious. I loved that about my mom. She was so filled with joy in everything in her life. It's probably the biggest reason she was such and amazing teacher.

 

    I am so thankful to be able to do what I do and feel very blessed to share my gift with others. I hope that all of you get to experience the magic of Christmas.

  
More treats for Santa's plate

Cinnamon Roll Cookies

 I've always loved cinnamon rolls but never seem to have the time or the inclination to make them. I found this recipe for Cinnamon Roll Cookies which really fits the bill.

 



 

Salted Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

I know you're not supposed to do it but I love to eat chocolate chip cookie dough when I'm making toll house cookies. So when I found this recipe I was so excited because now I can have the cookie dough I love so much without worries of getting sick from eating raw eggs. This is an egg free cookie dough made with browned butter sealed in a chocolate shell topped with sea salt.

 

It's your childhood in a bite!  

 



Something to keep in mind as you prepare for Christmas

 

     I know todays blog was all about Santa but I couldn't end todays blog without mentioning the real reason we celebrate Christmas. My wish for all of you as you prepare and go through the holidays is to keep Christ in Christmas.

 

     A few years back our mixed quartet InCahootz  (Tamara Callahan, my wife Lynda, Dave Patton and myself) were asked to sing on a live broadcast of a local radio station (3WS) for the holidays. We did a holiday set but this particular song caught on and has become very popular every time we sing. It's a beautiful song that was originally sung during the start of the Disney movie "Lady and the Tramp". We call it "Silent as a Snowflake" . Listen to the lyrics as sung by Lynda and then see how a very familiar Christmas song is intertwined. It means so much to us every time we perform it.  Lynda created this slide show a couple of years back, I hope you enjoy it.

 

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Ron





The summer of '75 changed my life continued.....
    Just about the same time I sang my first barbershop chord I was invited to be a part of the the Civic Light Opera's production of Fiddler on The Roof. What was crazy was I never actually auditioned for a part. I was there for the auditions but someone had started a rumor that the part I was auditioning for had to kiss a girl. I should have know that it was a goofy rumor but I was 11 and it kinda freaked me out. So I told my dad that I didn't want to audition and he said was up to me and we left.  

     About a week later I was surprised to get a call from the CLO asking if I was interested in a part in the show. I told them I hadn't even auditioned. They said they saw that but remembered me from the year before when I auditioned for The King & I.  

     I was so excited I just couldn't believe it. They sent a person out to the house with a contract for me to sign. My parents had even called the North Hills News Record (a local newspaper) to cover the event of me signing my first professional contract. It was exciting to be in the musical but in addition to that I got paid. But as great as that was the really amazing thing was actually was BEING ON STAGE. The lights, the music and especially the audience’s applause. 

     Musicals are so much fun. You get to meet all kinds of great people and even some stars. Jack Gilford who I knew from TV as the guy from the Cracker Jack commercials. But the roar of the crowd when the curtain opened was the big payoff, it was breathtaking. I have continued to enjoy that feeling throughout my life when I have performed in quartets, directed choruses and even performed again on the big stage as the school board in Music Man along with my good friends in Wired for Sound. 

Jack Gilford

     Being in Fiddler and joining the Barbershop Harmony Society made me realize what I really wanted to do in my life. I love to perform and sing. I love the applause and love the reaction when I make them laugh or move them to tears with a heart wrenching ballad. It's who I am and I owe it to the summer of '75 for helping me realize it at such a young age. 

     Now a day I continue sing in my quartet Wired for Sound and my mixed quartet InCahootz during the holidays. I also get a chance to use my singing and acting chops throughout the year doing singing telegrams.

Cookies the "Cookie Monster" would be proud of.

Momofuku Compost Cookies

  

Sounding more like a cookie from Oscar the Grouch these Momofuku Compost Cookies have a little bit of everything and are amazing!  Are you ready for this? Chocolate Chips, Butterscotch Chips, Graham Cracker, Rolled Oats, Ground Coffee, Potato Chips and Mini Pretzels!

Aunt Hazel's Apple Oatmeal Cookies

Aunt Hazel's Apple Oatmeal Cookies offer a hearty cookie with fresh apple, cinnamon, oats, walnuts and brown sugar.

     While looking through some old pictures I ran across some old class photos and since I was looking back at the mid 70's I thought I'd post one from my 6th grade class with the beautiful Miss Garrett.

     Well, I'm off to my first Santa of the year tonight. I'm heading to East Palestine, OH for a family party and I'm anxious to get started with the holiday season. Thanks for reading and please consider leaving a comment below.

Ron