Every year we go out looking for him. This year Shorty has run into him at the shops and at kindy but I fear there will not be a photo of the whole fivesome with the bearded one this year. Not unless I bribe them all with i-tunes cards.
We saw his signature in the sky a few days ago like the Bat-signal. The local Rotary Club has for many years, driven him around in a sleigh for a week before Christmas, a different set of streets every night. We never look up the Santa map. When we hear the Christmas musak on the sleigh speakers we'd go out stalking him, stopping every few streets and listening intently before hunting him down by ear. We missed stalking Santa this year. They were all busy and not as enthusiastic as when they were smaller.
Shorty believed me but there are more sceptics this year than ever before. I felt a pang when I found this.
So we set off in search off Santa to rekindle the Christmas spirit with some city sights as bait.
The City parade had camels and donkeys and tiny acrobats twirling above the crowd and sublimely singing nannas. Shorty liked the little pink princess up on her high throne best.
When the skies opened up we got soaked at the panto in the square under the enormous breathtaking tree.
There was squealing and dancing and jumping in fluorescent puddles. The children did too.
Crowds of Dads with crazy hats and mums with flashing earrings ran through the rain away from the dancing elves and helped each other with prams and toddlers and laughed together in the chaos of warm summer rain. It was joyous!
We caught a glimpse of Santa zooming away up the side of the parade on some turbo charged Santa-mobile. So this is the closest we got to the Santa photo for 2012. Que sera.
We conceded to Ho-ho-happy meals and got Starbucks for the first time ever. I know.
They sell Christmas fare. Who knew?
It was even fun walking home in bare feet through the wet, shiny streets all blingy and fresh and cool.
Is this a glimpse into the future when they go out together in the city without their mother taking photos from behind?
When you are soaked and excited and it's nearly Christmas even the zombie tunnels to the carpark are fun.
This zombie took a while to get to sleep last night.
So, Santa, we didn't try hard enough to find you this year as some of us were distracted and some of us were cynical but we still had a ball. Wish you could have been there. We'll see you tonight though. Milk and bikkies on the patio around midnight? It's a date!
May all your Christmases be merry and bright
and your families close and tight
because that's what it is all about.
Loving each other hard while you can and cherishing being together!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! x
