ROCKWALL (December 11, 2013) I look pathetic in a Santa suit. Instead of jolly and plump, I look like a red and white beanpole. The uncomfortable pillow strapped around my waist doesn’t help one bit. To be sure, I have the husky voice, the twinkle in the eye and the “ho ho ho” down pat. But one glance will tell you that I’m a mere impostor.
In spite of all that, the suit is pure magic. No matter how embarrassed I feel about how pitiful I look, the children believe. Some of the most touching experiences I’ve ever had have come while dressed as Santa. I’ve been hugged, kissed and stared at with sheer awe. I’ve taken many gift requests and forwarded them to the North Pole. I’ve handed out countless candy canes. And the smile on a child’s face, the innocent love and the belief never fades.
To dogs and cats, however, I’m a strange new animal that must be dealt with. Dogs are particularly confused. All the ringing of the bells and the blazing of camera flashes and the rustling of brightly colored tinsel adds up to pure bewilderment. And whoever heard of a tree that can’t be peed on? Or climbed on if you’re a cat? My jolly cries of “Merry Christmas” just add to the chaos for these pets.
That’s what “Photos with Santa” at the Rockwall Petco is like. As I sit merrily in my rocking chair sweating under my Santa suit, I alternate between smiling at a tender child as they sit on my knee and gritting my teeth at a dog whose goal is to escape my white-gloved grasp in a desperate attempt to return to his real world.
It’s a schizophrenic existence. The magic of the Santa suit is so powerful that I feel a deep commitment to the children. If they’re going to believe I’m the man himself, then I’m going to do everything I can to make them feel the enchantment. But pets look at me as some sort of combative presence that must be overcome. I’m used to saving pets’ lives, not making them feel threatened or confused.
But, like magic, the photos turn out charming. Some of my favorite photos are of my own former dogs and cats. The pets seem alive again as they snuggle close to Santa’s side with multicolored Christmas lights twinkling in their eyes. That’s why I enjoy being a pathetic Santa stand-in. For all of us who enjoy the holiday season, and especially those of us who consider our pets to be part of our family, Christmas is for making memories.
Maybe that’s been the secret to the magic all along. Even if our pets can’t live with us forever, the memories can.
Photos with Santa are at the Rockwall Petco December 7 and 14. Every photo purchase benefits Rockwall Pets.
By Blue Ribbon News special contributor Michael Kitkoski, Rockwall Pets.com, for Blue Ribbon News.
Erin Atkins, Agent, Hanby Ramey King Insurance proudly sponsors our Blue Ribbon News Pet of the Week from Rockwall Pets. Connect with Erin at 972-771-4110 or email erin@hrkinsurance.com.
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Photos with Santa at Rockwall Petco Saturday added by Editor on
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