Santa Paul
Hometown: Nome, Alaska
Other job: Heavy equipment operator at a stone crushing facility
Santa Claus for: 3 years
A friend of mine told me it was time for me to be a Santa because I have long hair and a full beard. On a whim, I tried it. I had my hair and beard bleached white and went to a Santa school. I live in Nome, Alaska, 180 miles east of Siberia. In my little town, our population is 3,400 people so I use an agency to get me into malls [in other parts of the country].
My boss gives me the time off and my job is waiting for me when I get back. I did two years in Brownsville, Texas, and this year I'm working for a mall in Westminster, Calif., just south of Los Angeles. I work 10 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m., but I like to get there early to be ready for the walk down to the big chair.
I've never had children of my own and to see some child from half way down the hall spot me and come running up and jump into my arms and give me a big hug, there's been no feeling like that. I'm not just in the character, I feel it now. Who would have ever thought someone with no children would have this draw, this allure for the kids?
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