Fear of the Fat Man

Okay. Think about it. It's a big jolly guy in a red velvet suit. I'd be a little frightened too. We were in Sam's Club yesterday evening, and there was a nice older couple running around in the old fashioned style Santa and Mrs. Claus suits. They were adorable. They were jolly. They were almost running down the aisles shoving toys into their carts. (They arrived in a pick-up truck that said Toys for Tots on the side.) I was laughing because a kid in line next to us asked his mom why they were buying toys instead of using the ones the elves made. She was apparently a quick-witted mom because she immediately answered that they must have run low, and Santa wanted to get some local toys for local kids instead of making another long trip. That seemed to pacify the kid. Anywhoo... Santa was in the line right next to us at the check out. Caleb freaked a little. He hid behind me and wouldn't even look at him. Other kids were flocking to him, saying hi, that sort of thing. Not us. We were cowering. I guess it's a good thing I didn't try to get the classic picture sitting on his lap at the mall. Maybe next year.