Last of the Great Story Tellers

The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home.--William Wordsworth

I got word that my good Santa buddy, Jim Lewis, passed away in Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles on Sunday August 15 . He was in total heart failure. There was little they could do short of keeping him permanently on life support. This indeed is sad news. I met Jim some 16 years ago on the Universal Studios back lot. He and I and eight other Santas were there to shoot a commercial for a German catalog company called Otto Versant. (I was told Otto is the German equivalent of Sears. After looking at the catalog, I'd say that was pretty accurate.) Actually, I met Jim weeks before at the audition for the commercial. I had a great conversation with him while we changing into our Santa suits. He was totally gregarious and treated me like we were old friends. It was almost as if you were compelled to like Jim. He had a personality as big as all outdoors that literally picked you up and carried you into his prodigious circle of friends.

It was on this commercial shoot that Jim and a couple of the other guys put their heads together and decided it would be fun to start a Santa fraternity called the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas. The idea was that we'd all meet up once a year after the holiday season and get caught up and swap stories. And, that's just what we did. It was always great fun. Our numbers grew each year, and now there are hundreds. It was terrific to always pick up where we'd left off the previous year. I always looked for Jim at these functions. I never wanted to miss getting caught up with him. The last time I saw Jim was 20 January of '08, at the annual Santas reuinion. (The picture I posted of Jim and I is from that event, and part of a larger photo that appeared in the Los Angeles Times. The other pics are from the Otto shoot.)


Not only was Jim a top-of-the-line Santa, appearing as Nordstrom's Santa at South Coast Plaza for 25 years, he was also a master professional storyteller. He created an original script and a persona, Grandpa Jim, which he employed as a means telling stories of pioneers on the Oregon Trail at a myriad of venues including camps, work shops, schools, conventions, etc. In this facet of his career, he told countless stories as he appeared before thousands of eager listeners. As a member of the South Coast Storytellers Guild, Jim generously shared his know-how and talent with other storytellers, and wanna' be story tellers. He most recently trotted out Grandpa Jim for an educational company called Dream Shapers who create educational programs for schools.

Jim was a fighter and survivor of prostate cancer. In fact he won two bouts with the malady; refusing chemo treatments through the ordeal because he did not want to lose one his best physical attributes, his wonderful snow white Santa beard. You gotta' love a guy like that.

(Thanks to Santa Tim for providing Jim's particulars)

Santa Jim Lewis, you are loved and you most certainly are going to be missed. While we are saddened by bidding you adieu, we know there are others joyously awaiting a reunion with you on the other side. I'm sure you'll be put to work right away brightening the lives of others there. Farewell for now my dear friend. I shall miss you, but will think of you fondly and often. Vaya con Dios, Santa Joe.

Anyhow, that's how Santa sees it!

Tribute to Dan Fogelberg

"There is no darkness in this place that we're bound. Love is the only thing that matters."--Dan Fogelberg-Icarus Ascending

Dan Fogelberg was born 59 years ago today in Peoria, Illinois. Sadly, he passed away of prostate cancer at the relatively young age of 56 on 16 December 2007.

Fogelberg’s music is timeless and unforgettable with a broad appeal. His lyric tenor voice had a wonderful comfortable down-home quality that invited the listener to basically come in be a part of his life.

A consummate gifted musical genius; a composer, arranger, vocalist, guitarist, pianist, and bass and mandolin player; he seemed unassuming and humble and grateful where his talent is concerned. Unlike many of the big-fish-in-a-little-pond pseudo geniuses with big egos. Dan Fogelberg was world class, the cream of the crop, one of a kind, and definitely had “it”. In his career, he produced one triple platinum, 4 double platinum, 3 platinum, and two gold albums. Thankfully he didn’t die with his music still in him. What a gift he gave to the world.

Some of my favorite songs of his include; Illinois, Souvenirs, As the Raven Flies, Leader of the Band, Same Old Lang Syne, Longer, Part of the Plan, and Dance with Me.

His last album with eleven songs, was released posthumously in 2009, and is titled, “Love in Time”. It is marvelous, and clear he had never lost his touch. My favorite gems from this album include; Come to the Harbor, A Growing Time, Diamonds to Dust, and

Sometimes a Song. (In fact Sometimes a Song was sold on the Internet as a single before the album’s release, with the proceeds going to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.) His rendition of Birds on this album definitely gives Neil Young a run for his money.

Since I am Santa Claus, I am always on the look-out for great holiday music. In the mid 90’s, Dan released a Christmas album, “The First Christmas Morning.”. It is absolutely superb. He put all of his creative juices to work on this one. His brilliant mix of old and new is incredible, and has an appeal for all musical tastes. He makes old Christmas standards come to life again, as well as original instrumentals and vocal compositions which include his At Christmas Time, The First Christmas Morning, This Endris Night, and Christ the King. If you don’t have this album in your collection of holiday CD’s, get it! It will make your holiday season!

When Dan Fogelberg passed away in December of 2007, he left behind a great legacy of music and humanitarianism that few will equal. I never got a chance to go to one of his live concerts, or meet him in person, but I sure would have loved to. I hope I do get to meet him at some future date and express my appreciation for the gift of his work and its effect on my life.

Anyhow, that’s how Santa sees it!

Times and Seasons

Why is Christmas just like a day at the office?
You do all the work and the fat guy with the suit gets all the credit.
-Anonymous-

I cannot believe how quickly 2010 is just whizzing by. It's already mid August and I can already smell the holiday season in the air; almost time to break out the Christmas music. I know how abhorrent that is to most of you at this point, but when you're Santa Claus that's what you do! I have already accepted a contract to be Santa at the Los Angeles Zoo for their Reindeer Roundup which starts the day after Thanksgiving. If you're in the area during the holiday season, stop by and get a picture with me.

The thing I look forward to most is hearing what the kids have to say. It is endlessly entertaining; sometimes heartbreaking, or even annoying, but certainly never boring.

If you sit back and think about it, making a living portraying a mythical character feels almost like you're perpetrating a falsehood. But, when a child climbs onto my knee with wide-eyed wonder on his face, and gives me a hug and says, "I love you, Santa," it is pure magic and any tinge of guilt I may feel vanishes. The Santa myth is wonderful part of childhood I think. I am sure there are many politically correct; the ones who celebrate Winter Solstice, not Christmas, and never use the phrase, "Merry Christmas, who would disagree. I feel sorry for them to a certain extent, because they are missing all the true joy of the season which Santa Claus is a part.

I applaud the parents who allow their children to have a childhood, and who make Santa a part of that childhood for them, because all too soon like Scarlett, Tara, and Rhett Butler, it's gone with the wind. Time is way too fleeting, and I personally think it's important to create some magic in a child's life when he is small. Santa Claus and Christmas time is some of the best magic of all.

Anyhow, that's how Santa sees it!