SantaDave with Santa Doll. /HEATHER EMBERLEY
It all started out so innocently. I mean really, what’s the point of having a white beard everyone comments on and not letting it grow and do the Santa thing?
Growing the white beard is easy; the issue is the fallout afterwards. /HEATHER EMBERLEY
Do it for the grand kids, I said. Get a job in a mall, said some friends. “You can scratch it off your bucket list ,” said a neighbour.
By the time Dave could say, “But it’s not on my bucket list,” the internet sensation had accrued a momentum there was no stopping.
As far as I can tell, growing a beard is an easy, no effort required project where all you have to do is breathe. It’s the fallout that gets complicated.
Children shrieking, “It’s Santa” at the grocery store can be a tad disconcerting.
Women asking Dave who quickly morphed into SantaDave if they could sit on his lap at parties was interesting.
SantaDave fashion tip: repurpose those ties men get into accessories that match Santa hat. /HEATHER EMBERLEY
The one that really got this Mrs. Claus was the persistent woman at the Calgary airport who said, “Santa, my name really is Virginia and you really are Santa.”
Forget traditional ‘naughty or nice’ criteria, she fit the nice n’ naughty category. Lucky for SantaDave I was there to protect him.
Santa is big business. Already we are in negotiation with a children’s book publisher as SantaDave (c) has marketability written all over that silky chalkboard.
His story is a page turner with a social justice theme throughout. Spoiler alert: SantaDave’s journey into paediatric oncology wards and homeless shelters has a positive message.
Here are some SantaDave (c) moments from 2016. Where was CNC photographer extraordinaire Doug Kretchmar when we needed him?
SantaDave reading the newspaper. /HEATHER EMBERLEY
It’s exhausting being Santa. /HEATHER EMBERLEY
SantaDave likes to read about all things Christmas. /HEATHER EMBERLEY
