Holiday season after season, for more than a decade, clothed in a red suit, boots and beard, I was allowed entry to the lives hundreds of local families. It was a privilege I understood, and a responsibility I took seriously.
I came to know parents and children with an intimacy that was borne of trust. That a stranger would be granted such access had less to do with me than with our need to embrace, without question, the ideal of inherent goodness.
Santa Claus is as good as it gets.
He is judgmental, to be sure, but unquestionably moral and always offering guidance to a better way forward. Even those on the “Naughty List” can find their way back to favor with just a little effort. To do so may take nothing more than being kind to your little sister, shoveling the walk or helping to set the table. Little things mean a lot to Santa.
As Oneonta’s resident Kris Kringle, I found disbelief and cynicism were easily addressed, and I became convinced of a central truth that has informed my life’s view since. People want to believe, and people will embrace the opportunity to do good.
On more than a few occasions, a tween- or teen-aged boy or girl would accompany their parents and younger siblings in a family’s visit to Santa. Once in my cottage, these skeptics would barely have a moment before I would appoint them as “My deputies.” (In fact, I held something of a swearing-in ceremony.)
And the duties they were bound to? Ensuring that the magic of Christmas filled the house every day ‘til I arrived, and that their younger brothers and sisters would “have their BEST Christmas ever.”
No one ever said no.
Doing good makes you feel good. You’re literally imbued with the spirit of the season.
Santa sets the bar. In his selfless devotion to creating and spreading joy to all the children of the world, he walks the walk. He’s a role model, and as his surrogate, I took that responsibility to heart.
Every year, families would make their way up the steps to the cottage and embrace my replication as real. Mine was an important connection to make and document, and on the checklist of many local families’ itineraries.
More times than you might imagine the hoped-for family photograph promised a stiffened, crying young child. While not always successfully, I’d encourage the father or mother to join me on “Santa’s Bench”, hold and comfort the child, and smile. Often, I would enlist that smile with an arm around the adult’s shoulder and stories of how they had acted at the same age. It wasn’t unusual for that conversation to continue with an increasing acceptance that I was speaking from a place of familiarity.
People want to believe.
We want to believe that the aspirations of Santa and the Spirit of Christmas are achievable. That everywhere can be joy and peace if we contribute to its happening. That a gift given is a gift received.
Over my more than 70 years, I’ve received many gifts for which I can barely express my gratitude, Certainly, an opportunity to portray St. Nicholas and touch the lives of local families for so many years is high among them.
Add to that my — now ending — term as mayor of this beloved city.
During these four years, there’s been ample evidence that what I learned these holidays past is, without doubt, true.
People are good and want to do good.
And they want to believe.
I hope that in my mayoralty I’ve provided reasons to believe, and the avenues and support to do good things. I believe the evidence would support that I have.
As I look around in this last holiday season of my public service, I see a great many good people doing good heart-warming things. Necessary things.
Things that will help us to make our city a shining beacon of hope for others, as we offer the precedent of attainable joy, peace, and love — and the spirit of the season embodied in our words and actions every day.
With all my heart, I wish you a Merry Christmas, the happiest of holidays, and a joyous New Year.