Danny Smith, the Human Resource director at the hospital, called me at the Chamber last week with a tone of frustration in his voice.

He said he was in a bind and needed help from the Chamber.

He noted that he had been turned down by four different individuals that he had asked to play Santa Claus at the hospital’s upcoming employee Christmas party.

They all had good reasons on why they could not do so, but it left him frustrated, nonetheless.

So, I heard him saying to me

“Jay, I’ve asked all the ones that I think would be any good at playing Santa and have been turned down, so I am desperate, could the Chamber help me, would you be able to play Santa for us?”

Well, I answered back faster than Prancer could wink at Vixen and said “Danny, if you think the hospital is adequately insured for such a thing, I will be glad to.”

So, as of 2 p.m.

last Friday, without ever having a lesson, I donned a Santa Claus suit and played Santa for the very first time.

Things started off a little shaky.

My “ho ho ho’s” were not as deep as they should have been-they were a little too high pitched and squeaky.

Plus, the children looked a tad confused as they saw a Santa that was not quite as rotund as usually seen.

(I did not know that the suit did not come with extra padding.)

But, after a short moment, I spied the rocking chair over in the corner that had been set aside for Santa and went and sat in it and waited for the little children to come my way-and they did.

It seems that children naturally warm up to Santa.

I cannot imagine a cuter group of children under one roof, anywhere.

And, as I asked them what they would like for Christmas, with sparkles in their young eyes, and excitement on their face, they were glad to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas.

Now, I know that most Santas, after the children tell them what they want, ask the children if they have been good this year, but I did not.

They were so adorable at the time that I really did not want to know, nor did I care, if some of them had occasionally given their mom or dad grief over the past year.

I did, however, encourage them to help around the house and to mind their parents, and to go to bed early on Christmas Eve so that they could wake up early on Christmas to see what Santa had brought them.

Now, sometime before the 25th, I am going to be looking for a Santa’s lap to sit on and wait to be asked by the cheerful man in the big red suit what I would like for Christmas.

I am going to respond by saying: “Santa, can you see to it:

1. That all of the Chamber members have good holiday sales figures in their businesses.

2. That they, and all others, in Demopolis have a great time visiting with family and friends over the Christmas holidays.

3. That all who celebrate Christmas have a very, merry Christmas.

4. That those who celebrate the beginning of Hanukah, have a great celebration.

5.

That peace comes soon, and in the meantime, that our men and women in our armed forces be safe.

Oh, and for my last wish, Santa, can you also see to it that Tim Tebow, the quarterback who shunned the University of Alabama for the University of Florida, gains 200 lbs. in the off-season so they will have to make a second string offensive lineman out of him?

The merriest of Christmas’s to each of you.