My Theory About Santa

After hearing about the struggles of so many friends who still aren’t done with their Christmas shopping, I have developed a new theory about Santa.

Perhaps he was invented by a procrastinator who wished that someone else would show up in the middle of the night with all the shopping done and gifts wrapped.

It makes sense to me!

My shopping has been done for a couple of weeks, the gifts are wrapped and cookies are baked. I’m making dinner tomorrow but things are pretty low key around here. I went shopping on Saturday to find a few things I needed for the house but sort of enjoyed the hustle and bustle since I was under no pressure to buy anything!

For your sake, dear friends, I sincerely hope that your work is done and that you can spend some of the next few days relaxing and enjoying the season.

Merry Christmas!

Santa, a Biplane, and Something To Be Excited About

Little kids like planes so I was pretty excited to hear that my barnstorming friend Dewey was helping with something special for kids in his community this Christmas. You see, he picked up Santa and gave him a lift to the airport in Springfield, Ohio on Sunday.

Santa and his elf spent that afternoon visiting with youngsters and learning their fondest Christmas wishes.

While Santa was tucked away with a line of kids in a warm airport terminal, Dewey was outside visiting with the kiddos and their parents. He fitted them all with aviator caps and goggles before lifting them up into the plane for photos.

Despite the cold, biting wind you only experience in western Ohio’s flat farmland (I’m from the hills where the wind can’t get up that much speed), groups of kids and adults came trooping outside for their turn with his 90 year old open air cockpit biplane.

I swear that many of them were just as excited to see the biplane as they were to meet Santa. The pilot seemed equally thrilled to give people the opportunity and to talk about the lost art of barnstorming.

He’s good with people and you can tell that there’s little he loves more than sharing his passion with others. It was fun to watch and I was happy to play a very small part that day.

A piece of me wishes I had something to be so excited about. I’m enthusiastic about lots of things and interested in almost any topic but there’s never been one thing that captured my enthusiasm so dramatically. Although, if I did something so cool as barnstorming in a fabulous old biplane, I might be singing a different tune.

Here’s a thought for today. If you have kiddos and you see a spark in them, you see that they’re excited about something, try nurturing that spark. Encourage them to learn and grow with that thing they love so much. It could turn into a career or maybe just a lifelong hobby. Either way, I’m guessing they’ll be happier than the rest of us who just bounce around from interest to interest.

And if Santa is coming to an airport near you, friends, go see him. There’s nothing cooler than seeing Santa climb out of an airplane.

Santas From Around the World

If Light Up Night is an indicator, Pittsburgh knows how to throw a party. The atmosphere Friday night was festive and fun, providing ample opportunity to eat, drink and be merry.

There was live music and a fantastic artist who used a chainsaw to create ice sculptures. We shopped a little, heard a fun barbershop quartet, took a spin through Fort Pitt and saw a great laser light show. Not to mention Santa, gingerbread houses, multiple tree lightings, a European Christmas marketplace and fireworks throughout the.evening.

It doesn’t hurt that Zambelli Fireworks is a Pittsburgh company that consistently provides the city with the best fireworks displays around. Friday night was no exception.

But my favorite attraction of the evening was an exhibit called Spirits of Giving From Around the World. It features life sized, lifelike Santas and paintings that depict them in action.

This is a very American thing for me to say but I had never considered how drastically different Santa might be in other countries.

Here’s their American Santa.

But then, this one is from China. Christmas Old Man fills children’s stockings with gifts from a wicker basket he carries. One little girl in line ahead of us was concerned that his basket wasn’t very big. I loved Ireland’s St Stephen. He looks the embodiment of life and fertility. And I was amused by the French Pere Noel who stashes gifts in wooden shoes left out by good children while his mean spirited companion leaves only switches for bad boys and girls. Norway’s Julesven is stunning and reminds me of Old Man Winter personified.

Look at how intricate the details are on his beard.

Here are a few more pictures. Note that Haiti is represented by a woman!

They were just stunning and frankly, the experience was eye opening, leaving me a little ashamed that I had never realized this giving soul would look different in every country.

And you know something? I loved it. I loved learning through this display. And I loved how art and enlightenment were brought to the young and old, disguised as little more than a neat Christmas display.

This exhibit will be available to the public through January 1, 2020. Click here for hours and location.

Last Day Before Vacation

I would love to sit here today with a good book and some Glenn Miller on the record player. I’ll go to work though. It’s my last day before a little holiday break and maybe some adventure. This old chair will be waiting for me whenever I make it home.

Happy Christmas Eve to you and yours.

It’s Beginning To Look Like Christmas

Ready or not, Christmas is almost here. For the record, I am not ready but will pull it together before the big day. Meanwhile here’s what’s happening around my house: classic music on the record player, books, candles and decorations…….

Christmas At Dogwood Pass

Let’s talk about Christmas, shall we?

Just down the road, near the village of Beaver, there’s a fun little place called Dogwood Pass. This old west town is complete with a mercantile, saloon, jail and other structures to tour and enjoy. During warm weather they host reenactments as well as events and private parties. During the Christmas season they go all out with lights and decorations.  On the weekends they have music, Santa and other fun as well.

I visited on a Saturday night last December, arriving just in time for Santa’s grand entrance. There was a light snow on the ground and he drove in to the town in a horsedrawn sleigh with jingle bells. A brass band played him in and he held court in the saloon, visiting with boys and girls of all ages. He was exactly what you would hope Santa would be like and his wife was lovely too.

I’m hoping to go back again this year. Maybe it will help me get into the holiday spirit. It’s a fun place for people of all ages but I imagine families would especially love it. I’m a big fan of supporting local businesses and events and hope you’ll support them too.

Dogwood Pass is located just off Route 32 near Beaver. You’ll see signs from the highway. The address is 722 Adams Road, Beaver and Google Maps should get you there from wherever you are in the world.

Get their hours and admission info on their Facebook page and visit them online for more information about the town and their events.