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Even with years of experience under his belt, Santa Claus admits it's a new venture every year to stand on top of a moving vehicle.
Still, the show must go on. Waving to the happy crowd on Yardley Borough's Main Street, Santa Claus rode again atop the Yardley-Makefield Fire Department's ladder truck at the annual Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade.
But, Santa said, the ladder truck is not as much of a challenge as the old Studebaker fire truck which he used to ride.
"Riding the old Studebaker was quite a feat," Santa said in an interview with the Yardley News. "It was like riding a bucking bronco bareback."
The only challenge about the newer ladder truck is you have to climb up the ladder one rung at a time. That has taken considerable practice over the years, said Santa. Mastering the foot work is one of the keys to success, said jolly old Saint Nick.
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Santa remembers some funny stories about the children he has talked to over the years. "One time, I was coming out of a building to get into the police car to be taken to the parade," he recalled. "There was a little girl and her mother standing on the sidewalk. The girl said, 'Look Mommy, they're taking Santa away in a police car! The mother said, 'Oh no, dear, they're not arresting Santa. They're taking him to the parade.'"
That story is one of Santa's favorites. "I could see the headlines: 'Chief O'Neill arrests Santa on the outskirts of Yardley!"
Santa Claus has been chauffeured to Christmas events and riding atop fire vehicles in Yardley Borough's special holiday occasions for many years -- "ever since the parade started," Santa said. "Actually, I've been coming to Yardley a lot longer than that -- since the memory of man runneth to the contrary."
When asked to describe kids at Christmas-time, Santa said, "The kids have very varying degrees of enthusiasm or fears as the case may be. And I can say that the kids have said a lot about being good during the whole year, helping their parents and being good to their and sisters.
"Sometimes," Santa said, "they say things that are heartbreaking such as: 'I want my Mommy and Daddy to get along or to be happy.' But, most of the time, they have specific things or toys they're interested in. A lot of times, they haven't thought things through. Sometimes, they'll ask for pets -- a dog, a cat or a horse that they're interested in getting."
Santa has a first-hand perspective on what kids want for Christmas. "Of course the electronic games are very popular with boys and girls, but more the boys," he said. "Then, you have the more traditional gifts like the Barbie Dolls for the girls and trucks for the boys. The trucks these days tend to be motorized. There's a lot of traditional type of stuff. I don't get many requests for skateboards. That's for an older group that I tend not to see." Santa said most of the youngsters he talks with are up to six years old.
Describing the kids he talks to, Santa Claus said, "Most of the time, they have a real look of amazement and wonder on their face: 'Wow! This is really neat -- you're really Santa Claus.'
"One of the things I've noticed going around the world is when people see me, it's not only the children who area amazed to see me," Santa continued. "Oftentimes, it's the grown ups that light up as well. They are still kids inside when they see Santa.
"It's sad to see the older kids who might be thinking, 'I'm not going to show that I really like Santa Claus. Although, sometimes I can see a smile twitching around the edge of their mouth," Santa said.
What does Christmas mean to Santa Claus? "First and foremost, it's a remembrance of Christ's birth and the gift giving which symbolizes the gift of baby Jesus to the world," Santa said. "It is a time of good fellowship and joy for the kids and adults alike and a real time for putting aside the petty things that seem to make life so mundane the rest of the year. People can make it a time when we can all join in and enjoy ourselves and be of good cheer to each other."
When asked what he would convey to people about Christmas, Santa said: "I would like to say: don't be afraid to feel the joy, just let go and enjoy yourselves as part of Christmas. One of the things I enjoyed riding in the fire engine is seeing the joy in people's faces that you see so seldom. It's really nice to see that and see people enjoying themselves. That's what it's all about -- it's not a sense of obligation -- 'I've go to do this -- I've got to do this.' It's about enjoying yourself and enjoying each other."
Santa said he would encourage children to experience the magic of Christmas. What would he tell youngsters? "Believe!! I think the kids need to look not only for the joy in Christmas, but the mystery in Christmas -- that there is something really magical about it, and that if they're not looking for the mysterious part of it, they're missing a lot."
Meanwhile, Santa said that Mrs. Claus is very busy these days. Not surprisingly. "She's cooking a lot and doing a lot of Christmas cookies. Even though we're very very busy at the North Pole, we have holiday parties, too. Of course the reindeer love to just jump right in and join in the fun, along with the elves."
When asked, "How is the suit fitting these days?" Santa replied, "I'll tell you, Mrs. Claus is a very good cook and my suit's not fitting as well as it used to, but she hasn't had to let it out yet."
Santa said he's ready for the great take off and he's braced for a long, but rewarding night: "It's a big world we cover!!"
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