He’s checking his list

It’s a busy time for North Pole resident Santa Claus. He’s checking

lists, listening to wants and wishes. He’s gearing up the sleigh,

making sure the reindeer are ready to go -- making sure there are no

issues between Rudolph and the others, and that the nose is shining.

In the meantime, he’s managed to commute to Costa Mesa, where at

South Coast Plaza he’s worked a shift that allows him to listen to

what children want.

With all the toys, with all the wish lists, with all the hustle

and bustle of the Christmas season, Santa said he is reminded that

Christmas is not really about toys. It’s about the giving spirit, he

said. It’s about family and the birth of Christ, and hope -- hope in

peace and freedom.

Santa took a break from his busy schedule talking to children to

talk with the Pilot’s Ryan Carter. As he sat in a mall office, Santa

seemed relaxed. After a shift with the children, he was dressed down,

wearing a “Support Our Troops” T-shirt, black suspenders and a pair

of jeans. But with the silver beard and mustache, you got a sense

that this was the real thing.

So what kind of requests are you getting this year? What do people

want?

Kids, like 3-, 4-, 5-year-olds, are asking for “The Incredibles”

toys, Spiderman, Batman, dump trucks.

Young girls are asking for dolls, Game Boys.... I’ve even had a

couple of requests from young girls for monster trucks and

motorcycles. It’s interesting. I always question them and say, “Well

I always thought those were for little boys,” and they say, “Well, I

like the monster trucks and motorcycles.”

Are the adults asking for anything?

Yeah. Of course, they’re always asking for Ferraris and Corvettes,

or something like that. I had a lady ask me for a new home. I said,

“Good luck.”

How long have you listened to the people here at South Coast

Plaza?

This is my first year here. I was at the Mission Viejo Mall for

four years before this.

What’s the oddest request you’ve received this year?

Hmmm. I’ve gotten some for live animals. “I would like a puppy or

a pet kitten,” they say. And I always say, “Well, what does mom say

about that, or dad? Is it OK with them?”

If they answer in the negative, then I say, “Santa can’t leave

real puppies or kittens, because Santa can’t come back and pick them

up if mom and dad don’t want them.”

Oh, hamsters -- and then the one that’s a bigger hamster, what’s

that one called?

Oh, you mean like a guinea pig?

Yes. That’s the one.

What’s the most heartfelt request you’ve received this year?

I had a little girl, probably about 10, she almost brought tears

to my eyes.

She sat there and I put my arm around her, and I said, “What would

you like Santa to bring you this year?”

And she said, “I want my mom and dad to get back together.”

I said, “Oh, they’re not living together?”

And she says, “No, they’re separated.”

I said, “Well you know what, Santa will see what he can do, but

things like that have a way of working themselves out ....But let’s

work on that and let’s let time take its place.”

And she said, “OK.... “

What’s your plan for Christmas Eve?

I’ll be here. When I’m done here, I’ve got to zoom out of here

....

I’ve always been curious, what do you like children to leave out

for you on Christmas Eve?

I always ask the kids, “Does your mom know how to make chocolate

chip cookies?” I say, “Do you think they could make Santa some

chocolate chip cookies?”

They say, “I think so.” And I say, “Thanks. I’d like some with

either a glass of milk or hot chocolate.” They say, “OK.”

And then I say, “What about Rudolph? Do you think I could get a

couple of carrot sticks for Rudolph?”

How is Rudolph these days?

He’s doing fine. He’s still my leader.

What do you want for Christmas?

A Harley-Davidson.

Do kids ever ask you what you want?

No. Not really.

How do you know what qualifies for being “good” or “bad?”

Behavior is a question I always ask the child. “How has your

behavior been this year?” I ask. If they answer in the positive, I

ask, “All year long and not just for Christmas time?”

Sometimes moms will say, “He can work on such and such just a

little bit more.”

And I look at them and ask, “Have you ever been left a lump of

coal?”

It’s a scare tactic, I guess, because now all the smiles and

giggles are gone, and now there’s a real serious look on their faces.

And I say, “If you don’t want a lump of coal, then improve your

behavior. Whenever mom and dad say for you to do something, you have

to do it. Can you do that for Santa?”

What are your hopes for the world in the coming year?

Well, I can answer that like some of the children have told me.

I’m looking for world peace. We can always work on keeping our

freedoms ... we can work on freedom for others.