Free Being Santa Claus : What I Learned About the True Meaning of Christmas (9781101600528) by Jonathan Sal; Lane Lizard, Jonathan Lane Page A
Authors: Jonathan Sal; Lane Lizard, Jonathan Lane
to me as well.
My friend provided me with the contact information for the director of the cancer treatment center, a woman named Lisa, who called me the following day. Lisa explained to me that her facility, a clinic attached to a much larger hospital, specialized in outpatient cancer treatment for children ranging in age from newborns to teenagers. Each year, the clinic would put on a special series of events to entertain their young patients at Christmastime. Santa Claus, of course, played an essential part in the program, along with jugglers, a cartoon artist, and more. Starting the following Monday through Friday, I would work from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. , visiting with the kids and handing out presents.
As uplifting as the festivities sounded, I still tossed and turned in bed on Sunday evening, trying to fall asleep while dreading the next five days of my life.
What have I gotten myself into? How am I going to getthrough this?
Linda tried to ease my mind, assuring me that I’d come a long way since visiting Timothy and that my experience would carry me through, but my heart was still heavy. I don’t remember falling asleep, but I definitely remember waking up feeling panicked about the day ahead.
I arrived at the clinic carrying my red suit in a garment bag over my shoulder and found Lisa’s office. I knocked on the already-open door, sticking my head inside. “Lisa?” I said to the slender, dark-haired woman sitting behind her desk.
She looked up from her computer and, seeing a white-bearded, portly gentleman standing in her doorway, her face brightened as she said, “Santa! I’m so glad you could make it!”
“Happy to be here,” I said merrily, hoping I sounded convincing.
Lisa led me out of her office and down a surprisingly cheerful hallway, decorated with bright furniture and vintage Disney paintings. “Right in here, Santa,” Lisa said, opening a door for me. “This is usually a file storage room, and some doctors and nurses use it to fill out paperwork or take a quick break. I’m afraid it’s a little full at the moment…”
I looked around and saw immediately what Lisa meant. Brightly wrapped presents and toys filled the room almost from floor to ceiling in some places. Stuffed stockings had labels taped to them specifying age rangeslike INFANT, TODDLER, 5–8 YEARS, 13 AND OLDER, and so on. I couldn’t believe how many toys and presents they had. These folks certainly took their Christmas event seriously.
Fortunately, I also saw a few chairs and tables to put my things down and space to get ready. Lisa backed out into the hallway, saying, “This door doesn’t lock, but if it’s closed, someone will always knock before walking in. As soon as you’re ready, just come back to my office and I’ll show you where to go next.”
“Great,” I said. “Thanks so much.”
“Thank
you
, Santa,” Lisa said with a grin as she closed the door.
The familiar ritual of putting on my Santa Claus attire steadied my nerves a bit. When I was all ready, I paused and took a deep, calming breath.
Okay, Sal…you can do this.
I walked back into Lisa’s office. She gave a gasp and a huge smile. “Oh, the children are going to be so excited! Come on!” She hurried me down the hallway in the other direction, and we entered a huge waiting room filled with children and their families.
I’d never seen a waiting area like this before. It looked more like a kindergarten classroom, filled with toys, books, huge blocks, and even a small slide that younger children could play on. In the center sat a gigantic aquarium filled with brightly colored tropicalfish and elaborate coral formations. Hanging everywhere were festive Christmas decorations.
On one side of the room, I saw an artist doing caricature sketches of some of the children. On the other side, a brightly dressed juggler entertained the crowd with jokes and fancy tossing tricks. Against the far wall, placed in front of a large cardboard cutout of
My friend provided me with the contact information for the director of the cancer treatment center, a woman named Lisa, who called me the following day. Lisa explained to me that her facility, a clinic attached to a much larger hospital, specialized in outpatient cancer treatment for children ranging in age from newborns to teenagers. Each year, the clinic would put on a special series of events to entertain their young patients at Christmastime. Santa Claus, of course, played an essential part in the program, along with jugglers, a cartoon artist, and more. Starting the following Monday through Friday, I would work from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. , visiting with the kids and handing out presents.
As uplifting as the festivities sounded, I still tossed and turned in bed on Sunday evening, trying to fall asleep while dreading the next five days of my life.
What have I gotten myself into? How am I going to getthrough this?
Linda tried to ease my mind, assuring me that I’d come a long way since visiting Timothy and that my experience would carry me through, but my heart was still heavy. I don’t remember falling asleep, but I definitely remember waking up feeling panicked about the day ahead.
I arrived at the clinic carrying my red suit in a garment bag over my shoulder and found Lisa’s office. I knocked on the already-open door, sticking my head inside. “Lisa?” I said to the slender, dark-haired woman sitting behind her desk.
She looked up from her computer and, seeing a white-bearded, portly gentleman standing in her doorway, her face brightened as she said, “Santa! I’m so glad you could make it!”
“Happy to be here,” I said merrily, hoping I sounded convincing.
Lisa led me out of her office and down a surprisingly cheerful hallway, decorated with bright furniture and vintage Disney paintings. “Right in here, Santa,” Lisa said, opening a door for me. “This is usually a file storage room, and some doctors and nurses use it to fill out paperwork or take a quick break. I’m afraid it’s a little full at the moment…”
I looked around and saw immediately what Lisa meant. Brightly wrapped presents and toys filled the room almost from floor to ceiling in some places. Stuffed stockings had labels taped to them specifying age rangeslike INFANT, TODDLER, 5–8 YEARS, 13 AND OLDER, and so on. I couldn’t believe how many toys and presents they had. These folks certainly took their Christmas event seriously.
Fortunately, I also saw a few chairs and tables to put my things down and space to get ready. Lisa backed out into the hallway, saying, “This door doesn’t lock, but if it’s closed, someone will always knock before walking in. As soon as you’re ready, just come back to my office and I’ll show you where to go next.”
“Great,” I said. “Thanks so much.”
“Thank
you
, Santa,” Lisa said with a grin as she closed the door.
The familiar ritual of putting on my Santa Claus attire steadied my nerves a bit. When I was all ready, I paused and took a deep, calming breath.
Okay, Sal…you can do this.
I walked back into Lisa’s office. She gave a gasp and a huge smile. “Oh, the children are going to be so excited! Come on!” She hurried me down the hallway in the other direction, and we entered a huge waiting room filled with children and their families.
I’d never seen a waiting area like this before. It looked more like a kindergarten classroom, filled with toys, books, huge blocks, and even a small slide that younger children could play on. In the center sat a gigantic aquarium filled with brightly colored tropicalfish and elaborate coral formations. Hanging everywhere were festive Christmas decorations.
On one side of the room, I saw an artist doing caricature sketches of some of the children. On the other side, a brightly dressed juggler entertained the crowd with jokes and fancy tossing tricks. Against the far wall, placed in front of a large cardboard cutout of
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