Is there a Santa Claus? Is there a Santa Claus? (December 23, 2005)

by Jeb Bing

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon asked that question of Editor Francis P. Church of the New York Sun newspaper 108 years ago. Yes, he assured Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. In fact, today Santa is among the most recognizable figures in the world. We see him in newspapers, on television, in movies and advertisements, in store windows and even pictured on Christmas tree ornaments. Most vividly, of course, is when we see Santa around town after Thanksgiving and until late Christmas Eve. That's when, according to a report by Clement Moore in his "A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1823, Santa hitches his eight reindeer (and now also Rudolph) to the sleigh his elves have already loaded and heads around the globe to make Christmas very special for little girls and boys who know him.

Virginia should have seen the crowds of children on Main Street earlier this month that cheered him at the Christmas Parade and chatted with him later. Or she should have stood with me last weekend in the long line of children who were waiting patiently, many with written gift lists in their hands, to talk to Santa at Stoneridge Shopping Center. The excitement in their eyes and the joy in their hearts were proof that Santa is just as much a part of their Christmas happiness in 2005 as he has been through the years.

My grandson Christopher Nally, 4, is a fan of Santa's, especially after he received a quick response to his e-mail at www.emailsanta.com. Christopher wants a robotic dinosaur called Roboraptor for Christmas, and Santa knew all about this new realistic toy and its sophisticated programming. Just to be sure, he stopped by to see Santa at Stoneridge to ask again. He finds that Santa keeps up with fast-changing technologies and trends, so of course he would have Roboraptors on this year's assembly line. But Santa told Christopher that he's also careful not to promise he'll bring any specific gift, especially popular ones where his elves can't keep up with demand. That happened a few years back when his supply of Tickle-Me-Elmo ran out and long before with a shortage of Cabbage Patch dolls.

Christopher and I chatted about the whole perplexing dilemma of Santa's Christmas Eve trip, pondering the hazards of toy delivery. But no problem according to Christopher--the fire in the chimney is extinguished by Santa's magic mittens, making for an easy descent from the rooftop. As for the fact that the big guy is never actually seen enjoying the cookies and milk left for him, Santa is simply too shy to stay and visit. There is always an easy explanation for all the tough questions if you just ask a 4-year-old.

I also talked to Rachel Lemmon, also 4, who goes to Beverly DeCool's Heavenly Sonshine Preschool with Christopher, where Christmas, Santa and gifts have been the talk of their class all week. Rachel said she saw spider webs in her home's chimney so she told Santa he'll have to carry a saw to get rid of them so that he can deliver the blue Barbie bike that she wants.

Like so many girls this year, Lauren DiMaggio, who'll turn 4 next month, wants a doll. In fact, Santa says dolls are back, after losing out to computer games and motorized toys for the last few years. For girls like Lauren, he has more requests for specialty dolls such as Princess Twinkle Lights Cinderella, which she wants. Barbie dolls are also a favorite although Santa says that Bratz dolls are the rage this year. By the way, Lauren gave me the rundown on Santa's pre-Christmas routine. She said he first makes a trip to Target to do his toy shopping and then heads back to the North Pole to make whatever he can't buy.

Whatever it takes, these kids--and probably their parents--believe Santa will bring joy to Pleasanton's children on Christmas morn. And so do I. Merry Christmas!

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