santa

Santa Clause lives at the beach in his off season...Thursday is his laundry day.

Two weeks ago, on a Tuesday, after picking up the Pea from school, we headed toward the grocery store and while we were stopped at a light we saw an older man. I won't say homeless, because I don't know, but rather unkempt and walking along the side of the road in an area not conducive for afternoon strolling or an evening workout, he was wearing a red shirt, khaki pants, had a long full white beard and had thick wavy white hair. The Pea yelled, "Wook mommy, it's Santa!" and I, figuring what the hell, why tell her no, cuz for all I know it is (lots of northerners head here for the summer after all), reply "Yup, that's Santa" and don't give it another thought.

On Thursday, we were stopped at the same light and the Pea asked where Santa was. As I was explaining to her that his vacation was probably over and he was headed back to the north pole she exclaimed "Oh, THERE he is!" and sure enough...there he was, walking the same area, this time a green shirt, khaki pants, same full beard and white hair. Well, NOW we have to go in search of Santa every Tuesday and Thursday, and so far he has yet to disappoint. Last Tuesday, red shirt...last Thursday green. We even saw him this morning, much to our surprise, and he was wearing the red shirt. The Pea has even taken to telling me about him, and what he is doing, where he is going, and why the alternating red and green shirts (the red one gets dirty and goes in the wash so he has to wear the green one on laundry day). I wonder if any of the other people, in any of the other cars, noticed him, and if any of the kids thought they too were getting a sneak peak of Santa in the off season. I wonder if HE has any idea the joy and awe he has brought at least one little one.

I wonder if it really is Santa...and if so if I should stop and ask him why he didn't bring me that Snoopy Snow Cone Machine back in 1982.