Here comes that season of the year when I get the illusion that everybody feels happy with a smile in their faces and hearts. Here comes the snow and the cold. Here come the non-stop Christmas songs in shopping malls and grocery stores. Here come all the Christmas commercials. Here come the front yard Christmas lights and plastic snow men.
What is it I like about Christmas anyway? Is it the decorations? Is it the family get together? The nice cozy fireplace they show on TV? Honestly what is Christmas without TV and electric lights? Well, I guess what is life without the later anyway?
Anyway, this year I met Santa (yea!) At Walmart (yea!) At a "Shop With a Cop" event (yea!) As I go through the self checkout with the bossy robot lady saying "please place your stuff in the bagging area!" (I'm sure she didn't say "stuff." She probably said "items" or some formal stuff like that) and "thank you for shopping at Walmart". Santa is surrounded by a lot of armed cops who are trying to put their best friendly smiles possible to Walmarters. For a minute it seemed like an active crime scene with Santa being the suspect. Even with Santa in the vicinity, yes it was intimidating. I approached the big fat Santa wearing a poorly designed fake beard. Oh and there is Santa's wife! This is my first time seeing Mrs. Clause.
Somehow, I found myself standing right in front of Santa taking pictures. The big old man said, "comeon over here, you can get your picture taken with me" with a generous old man's smile. I went and sat next to him. He insisted that I sit on his lap. I said, "I am a little too heavy." What I actually meant was, 'I am a little too old for that.'
Santa is one of those vague elements surrounding the American culture, which I don't understand as an Ethernopian. I mean in a strictly secular thinking, Christmas is a celebration of Christ's birthday, yet there is this imaginary big old white man delivering gifts to children. Aren't Christ's followers supposed to give gifts to the birthday man, instead of expecting gifts from this other imaginary old man. What does he have to do with the birthday man, Jesus Christ?
Anyway, this year I met Santa. Merry cherry Christmas y'all!
