| I've a confession to make. I used to be
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| | well as calling the child by name. Don't
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| Santa Claus. Not the real Santa, of
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| | promise specific gifts (unless prompted
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| course, but one of the Shopping Mall
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| | by a nod from the adult accompanying the
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| Santas who help out the Big Guy in Red,
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| | child), don't refer to the child's
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| filling in for him in department stores
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| | "parents" or "mom and dad" since many
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| and malls around the country talking to
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| | children are in single parent homes, or
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| children and having their pictures taken
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| | are raised by other relatives -instead
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| with them. A great part time job that
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| | Santa would always refer to "your folks"
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| lasts only one month a year, from the day
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| | - and (this is a big one) don't "Ho Ho
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| after Thanksgiving up to Christmas
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| | Ho." Loud Ho Ho Ho's tend to scare some
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| Eve.How did I get into this gig? By
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| | kids, especially the younger ones who are
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| answering a help wanted ad in the local
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| | a little apprehensive of Santa to start
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| newspaper that said, simply, "Now Hiring
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| | with. Santa should be jovial and
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| Santas. Training Provided." And a
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| | friendly, but not scary, so the Ho Ho
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| number. I had no idea until that day
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| | Ho's had to go.What I received from this
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| that temporary employment agencies
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| | experience, in addition to the promised
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| provided Santas for stores, but as a
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| | paycheck, was a feeling of having brought
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| child I'd sat on the big elf's lap, told
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| | joy and wonder into the lives of several
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| him my holiday desires, and truly
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| | small children. Add to that a couple of
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| believed that he would provide the GI
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| | damp pairs of red Santa pants when
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| Joe, the Schwinn bicycle, and the Daisy
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| | youngsters became "overly excited" and
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| BB gun that I asked for. The chance to
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| | had not visited the rest room prior to
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| learn the secrets of Santa magic, spread
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| | their Santa visit, and amusement when a
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| delight to children, and get paid at the
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| | few "grown up kids" decided to have their
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| same time seemed too good to pass
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| | pictures taken with Santa, and the
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| up.Santa School, it turned out, was an
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| | experience was definitely worth doing.
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| all day event, and a serious endeavor.
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| | The most interesting "person" to sit on
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| The company showed a video tape of
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| | Santa's lap was a young woman's pet
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| successful Santas talking to kids, showed
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| | ferret. The ferret was friendly and
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| us all how to put on our costumes, apply
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| | enjoyed her visit-especially the chance
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| a pillow for the proper padding, adjust
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| | to crawl through Santa's beard. Her
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| the wig and beard, and how to add a touch
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| | owner said the picture of Santa with
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| of white make-up to eyebrows and any
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| | Wendy the Ferret in his beard would grace
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| exposed natural facial hair. And more
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| | her Christmas cards that year. It was a
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| importantly, we learned the "do's" and
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| | great, fun experience. So if you like
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| "don'ts" of the Santa trade. Do remind
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| | kids, have a large lap, and can find the
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| the child to be good, to do well in
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| | work, being a Shopping Mall Santa is a
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| school, and to smile for the camera, as
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| | part-time job you can't beat.
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