A Santa Near Me

I'm really not much of a singer even though I can enjoy trying, but I try to encourage children to step up to lead and sing along with their peers.
I have a deep calming voice which can become quite animated as we sit and read some Christmas stories together. I enjoy seeing where the magic of children's imagination takes them if we sit and play improvisation games.
What I enjoy most is sitting with your child and talking about their day, listening to their jokes, discussing their progress in school, their relationships, what they are capable of doing for someone other than themselves, and of course, whether they have been "good or bad" and whether they think there is some room for improvements.
Santa is the symbol of a man renowned for his kindness and his history of bestowing gifts and happiness upon needy and deserving people. I like to think I can fashion myself after that man.

Santa was never someone I imagined would be a part of my life. I've had my beard for over forty years and I grew it long in the seventies because it was what was done by young people my age. Most of those bearded years, I've kept it cropped quite closely until several years ago. Under the urging of my wife and daughter I began to grow my beard longer again. Then one day, the eyes of a young child caught my own while sitting in a restaurant in downtown Richmond. The encounter was truly something out of a Hallmark movie. He and his family were seated in the far back and would need to walk past me, at an arms length away, in order to exit. When that time came, the child's eyes never diverted from my gaze and the closer he got to me, the tighter his clinched whitening hands became. I could see them clearly as he attempted to hide his nervous smile. They walked past me and exited the restaurant. I leaned over the table to my wife and daughter, telling them I wished they could have seen this child's face and eyes. I said I knew exactly who this tiny boy thought he had encountered. My wife said, "Bob, they are coming back into the building." This little man, with the safety of his mother's firm grip on one hand while the other was still clinched to his chin, sheepishly approached and addressed me. I couldn't really understand what he was saying with his hand positioned where it was, but thankfully his mother was there to interpret for him. He wanted to know if I was Santa. I couldn't help but laugh and my voice has a nice deep tone to it, but I could see in this innocent child's eyes that this was no joke. I slowly leaned over to him, touched my nose, then gently touched the hand closest to his mouth, and I told him that I was who he thought I was, but I was not working at that time. I asked him if he could keep our secret that he had met me here. He slowly shook his head yes and we said our goodbyes.
As the family was leaving the building, the child continued to look back at me after every three or four steps until they exited. When they were gone I turned to my family, sitting there smiling ear to ear, and simply said, " I think Santa has become a part of my life."
I can't describe how happy I was on that day. But now, I have had the opportunity to experience that same joy, almost, everyday since. The happiness I feel when someone sees Santa in me is something so warm it's difficult to put words out there to describe it.
This is the Santa that you will be inviting to join your celebration. I'm not a loud Ho Ho Ho'er. More than a few children have really been startled by that booming sound, and quite frankly, I haven't met many big round men shouting that out as they have entered a room. So, I don't normally do that myself. I can laugh heartily as Santa would and be a lot less frightening. I truly believe I am able to gain your child's trust much more easily this way and our visit is so less stressful.
I have had children stand in a line for 10 or 15 minutes until his or her time came to sit and chat with me. When our visit was over, the child would go back to the end of the line again, stand for another 10 or 15 minutes, only to sit beside me again so we could continue our conversation where we had left off. I have spoken to some children three times. This is my favorite time with the children.

To ensure that clear photographs are attained, Santa will need to be seated in an area where ample lighting is available. Select a spot that enables a pleasant visit between your child and Santa, where the two can hear and understand what the other is saying. Please have Santa seated away from any loud or disturbing ambient sounds such as loud music or chaotic children running around partying there little heads off. We want everyone to have a good time by all means, but I want each child to know I'm listening to what they have to say.
The coolest (temperature wise) location in the room is always best. It can be warm wearing this suit. It would be nice if cold water is available to keep me hydrated.
I can arrange to arrive earlier if you have treats or gifts you want Santa to give to someone attending the event or engagement.