We all know Santa Claus is real.
But he has his challenges 乌鸦传媒� for security reasons, for instance, he has to go by all kinds of pseudonyms, particularly when fulfilling all his responsibilities during the Christmas season.
On the Semiahmoo Peninsula one of the identities he has assumed 乌鸦传媒� with the willing co-operation of the individual in question 乌鸦传媒� is that of a South Surrey resident, retired pressman Don Bennett, 87.
Bennett has been helping him out in the community for 25-plus years, Santa told the Peace Arch News by email 乌鸦传媒� evidently from the North Pole 乌鸦传媒� adding that 乌鸦传媒榯hey乌鸦传媒� have done all the major malls in the area.
乌鸦传媒淏ut I prefer a more relaxed setting, such as the 乌鸦传媒楤reakfast With Santa乌鸦传媒� event at Softball City, which I乌鸦传媒檝e attended for over 20 years,乌鸦传媒� he said.
乌鸦传媒淵ou just never know where or when Santa might turn up,乌鸦传媒� he added.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e done major grocery chains, kids乌鸦传媒� parties, Canadian Union of Public Employees乌鸦传媒� parties, private house parties and numerous other corporate Christmas parties 乌鸦传媒� I even did work (through Bennett) for an agency for three or four years.乌鸦传媒�
Ironically, Santa said, for all the help he has been with seasonal duties in recent decades, Christmas was 乌鸦传媒渘ever a big deal乌鸦传媒� for Bennett when he was growing up.
乌鸦传媒�(He) was born in Vancouver in the middle of the Second World War,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淗ad a paper route and then worked for a neighborhood meat market as a teenager.乌鸦传媒�
For many years Bennett worked at the Vancouver Sun, and later for all of Pacific Press, Santa added.
乌鸦传媒�(He) delivered advertising proofs all over downtown Vancouver while waiting to begin an apprenticeship as a plate maker 乌鸦传媒� even worked in the fledgling computer room, (which was) operating on punch cards in the 1960s, and sold classified ads.乌鸦传媒�
Eventually, Bennett got his apprenticeship in the press room where he stayed until he was forced to retire after a triple arterial bypass operation, Santa said.
Bennett was married for 63 years until he lost his wife just two years ago, he noted, but they have two adopted daughters (乌鸦传媒渢he pride of my life,乌鸦传媒� Bennett has told him) and four grandchildren 乌鸦传媒� and now one great granddaughter.
Presumably because most of the facts about his life are well-known, Santa was reluctant to talk about himself, however.
Although he most assuredly has a list and checks it twice, he was not about to relieve our curiosity about who made the naughty and nice categories this year, particularly when it came to local politicians.
乌鸦传媒淪orry乌鸦传媒anta is apolitical,乌鸦传媒� he replied.
Nor could he be drawn on what he feels about many conspiracy theories that hold that he doesn乌鸦传媒檛 exist.
乌鸦传媒淵ou are entitled to to your own opinion,乌鸦传媒� was all he would say on that.
But both he and Bennett agree that their favourite part of Christmas is 乌鸦传媒渨hen it乌鸦传媒檚 all over and packed up and we can return to peace in the valley.乌鸦传媒�
While people seldom ask Santa what he wants for Christmas, he said his greatest wish is for 乌鸦传媒渟ome more peace and tolerance in this tired old world.乌鸦传媒�
His basic message for us for the season doesn乌鸦传媒檛 vary: 乌鸦传媒淎 very merry Christmas and a happy and, hopefully, prosperous New Year.乌鸦传媒�
But he is more forthcoming when questioned about the most unusual Christmas gift he was ever asked for.
乌鸦传媒淚 was at a private house party and a woman came up to me and said 乌鸦传媒業 hope you will be cool with my kids 乌鸦传媒� I just lost my husband乌鸦传媒�,乌鸦传媒� he said.
乌鸦传媒淭he first two children didn乌鸦传媒檛 ask for much,乌鸦传媒� he recalled.
乌鸦传媒淭hen the third one got on my knee and I asked what she would like for Christmas.
乌鸦传媒淪he said 乌鸦传媒業 don乌鸦传媒檛 want anything for Christmas, but on your way past Heaven would you please tell my daddy that I love him?乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淚 hugged her so hard I thought her eyes would pop, and I said 乌鸦传媒淥f course, sweetie 乌鸦传媒� that will be my first stop.乌鸦传媒�
