“I am a Santa in Indianapolis, Indiana. The first time I was Santa was 1972. My sister was four years younger and I dressed up for her while she still believed. I had a beard most of my life. In the early years it wasn’t gray so I had to put one over it. This will be my 12th season to be Santa year-round and I give kindness to kids every day of the year. This week I came to Gulf Shores for a guys trip. When I go back home, Santa season begins with photo sessions for Christmas cards.

There are the warriors who are mall Santas for 10 to 12 hours a day from early November through December 24. Sometimes they only have 30 seconds per child and Santa doesn’t leave until the last child sits on his lap. I am a Christmas performer. I tell stories with pictures of reindeer and Santa magic. I show them the fairy dust that makes reindeer fly and helps Santa get down the chimney. My wife does this with me and we like to tell stories to ease the fears of the kids who are scared and hiding behind their parents. 

There is reality in the magic of believing. Parents like it too. They should provide the biggest gifts at Christmas so they get the credit. Letters and visits with Santa also help parents know what their children want and it is a magical way to understand your kids.  It is also about those few pictures of belief because childhood goes by so fast. The hardest request is to bring daddy back because they lost him through divorce or death. I tell kids they can always find Santa in their hearts.”