The other night, my family went to St. Albert Centre to get our kids pictures taken with Santa.
I have to say, I think there's something fishy going on in that mall ... Typically you see some old guy dressed up in an obvious costume, he asks what the kids want, snaps a pic and sends them on their way.
However, the Santa at St. Albert Centre had something different about him ... There was an extra twinkle in his eye ... His beard was exactly right. His cheeks were the exact right shade of rosy red. The glasses, the suit. It was all a little too good ...
When my kids went up to him (after he was finished with the sweet disabled girl who was visiting him), he lit up like no normal “man in a suit” could. It was too spot on! He remembered visiting our house last year, and even remembered what he left for our youngest (I couldn’t even remember, but he did!). He visited with them for way longer than a normal mall Santa would, and knew exactly what to say and how to say it to keep two little boys under control.
After, he gave me a card of a friend of his that runs a Facebook page for him, Phileas Flash. So Phileas, if you read this, tell your friend that we’re on to him! He was no “man in a suit”. We could tell: That Santa was the real deal!
And to St. Albert Centre: I don’t know how many cookies and glasses of milk you had to pay Santa to be there, but get him back next year!
Merry Christmas to all!
Matthew St. Onge, St. Albert
