Ask Santa to spill his secrets

Santa is taking a break from his busy pre-Christmas schedule and visiting the Southside Community and Senior Center.

Kids of all ages can have a hot breakfast and pose for a photo with Santa in one of his spare sleighs. If breakfast isn’t your thing, other opportunities to whisper Christmas wishes are scheduled – and even furry friends can get into the act.

“It’s a way to raise funds for the center and spread holiday cheer,” said Santa Breakfast chairman Dan Garcia.

He estimated about 150 attended Saturday’s breakfast.

“It was amazing,” Garcia said. “The look on the kids’ faces as they came in to see Santa – their eyes lit up like floodlights. It brings back a lot of memories for the older generation and it creates memories for the younger ones.”

Recently, Santa took a well-earned break to answer a few questions for The Spokesman-Review.

SR: What’s your favorite color?

Santa: Green. Lots of people bring their kids in for pictures dressed like me, but they disappear in all that red. I tell parents green is a better color.

SR: Do you have a favorite reindeer?

Santa: Prancer. I love the way he dances.

SR: Who is on the naughty list?

Santa: That’s a secret, but I can tell you it’s a short list.

SR: How can one stay on the nice list?

Santa: Follow your mom and dad’s advice. Follow the rules. And most of all, be kind – that’s the best way to stay on the nice list.

SR: What’s your favorite holiday song?

Santa: “White Christmas,” the Bing Crosby version.

SR: How do you deliver presents to houses without chimneys?

Santa: Magic, of course! That’s also how I deliver all the gifts by Christmas morning.

SR: Do you have a favorite cookie?

Santa: I do – peanut butter chocolate no-bake cookies are my favorite.

SR: Are your presents parent-approved?

Santa: Oh yes! Especially pets. Putting an animal in the sleigh in December can be hard on animals, so sometimes parents help out.

SR: Speaking of animals, lots of people like to bring their pets in to get photos taken with you. What kind of pets have you posed with?

Santa: Lots of dogs. No cats. And Santa loves cats! A turtle, parrots and once a boa constrictor. I love all animals, but snakes are not my favorite.

SR: What do you do the day after Christmas?

Santa: Ho ho ho! I sleep.

SR: Tell us about the youngest person to sit on your lap and the oldest.

Santa: Once a lady came in who was hugely pregnant. I asked her when her baby was due and she looked at her watch. “Any minute,” she said. So we took the picture. Two days later she came back with the baby and we took another one. They were before and after photos!

The oldest was a 98-year-old lady who told me she’d never been kissed by Santa, so I planted a kiss on her check. (Mrs. Claus understood.) When she got off my lap she whispered, “I still believe.”