It’s the most wonderful time of the year

          One of my favorite adventures as a community journalist is taking Santa photos.
          This year I’ve captured Santa in Grinnell, Brooklyn, Montezuma and Deep River, where he arrived on the back of a fire truck with sirens blaring.
         I’ve taken at least 75 photos of kids and Santa this year. I love capturing all the smiles of area youngsters sitting on Santa’s lap or kneeling by his side and sharing their Christmas wish lists, while telling Jolly Old St. Nick that they’ve been a good boy or girl.
          However does he keep that list of who has been naughty and nice?
         What’s more special is all of these communities host holiday/Christmastime celebrations in connection with Santa’s visit.
      Grinnell hosts Jingle Bell Holiday while Brooklyn celebrated the season with Christmas Traditions. Montezuma was home to Hometown Holiday and Deep River hosted Santa at the American Legion. Every youngster in Deep River received a gift certificate, a bag of goodies and a free toy. And then after meeting will all the little ones, Santa took off in a Legion member’s pickup and made the rounds across town dropping off goodies for all.
           I always enjoy taking photos and talking to folks during these wonderful holiday celebrations.
        And I attended the Brooklyn Community Theatre production of “Many Things” at the Brooklyn Opera House. The Christmas play was written by Josh Gerard, the Brooklyn librarian, pastor of New Beginnings Church and playwriter and actor.
            It was a great production and I left thinking of all the blessings that life has afforded me.
           I don’t know how Santa does it, sharing cheer and leaving toys, electronics and many other gadgets with boys, girls and those of all ages across the globe, and all in one night. 
           I remember all the excitement of Santa arriving at the Parker house on Christmas eve. My brother, Tom, and I never went without a bunch of gifts on Christmas morning.
            I was so excited about Santa and Christmas morning one year that I went to bed at 6 p.m. so Santa would arrive quicker. As I tried to sleep, a knock came on one of my bedroom windows.
            I pulled back the shade and there was Santa in all his glory calling my name with a ho, ho, ho!
            We had a gas lamp in our front yard by the porch and at Christmastime, my family had a plastic two-piece Santa mask that went around the lamp.
            How that plastic mask didn’t catch on fire is amazing.
          My dad had taken one of the plastic Santa faces and held it up to my bedroom window having some fun. I was so excited to see Santa.
            I finally got to sleep, only to wake up around 2 a.m. I couldn’t sleep anymore, so I got everyone up and we opened gifts and then all went back to bed.
           We always set out a cookie and a glass of milk for Santa’s visit and on Christmas morning, the cookie and milk were always gone.
            We had a fake chimney, so it had to be our parents who let him in the house. I guess I will never know.
          Santa’s gift was always unwrapped and the rest of the family gifts where wrapped and neatly placed under our Christmas tree.
            After marrying Debbie, our first two Christmases, Santa wrapped my gift and left Debbie’s unwrapped.
            That second year, Debbie asked me why Santa didn’t wrap her gift.
            “He never did that when I was growing up,” I told her.
            “He did that when I was growing up,” Debbie told me.
            I sent Santa a note via email, and asked that he wrap Debbie’s gift. And it’s been that way in the year’s since.
         Debbie and I have enjoyed wonderful Christmases together and with family. Our home and garage quickly fill up with shipping boxes and wrapping paper fills the living room. We all check several times to make sure everyone gets a gift or two.
           That’s really what Christmas is about – Jesus, family, friends, giving to others and a time of reflection for life’s many blessings. Toss in some good food and all is well with the world.
            It is the most wonderful time of the year!
            Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.