there is a santa . . . many of them

About three weeks ago, my brother and sisters came to Florida to help me with my mother's estate sale.  The first day of the sale, a man and his wife browsed through Mother's things.  This guy looked familiar.  Really familiar.  This man looked like Santa Claus!

 Sure enough!  It was Santa Claus John! We talked awhile and I almost wanted to give Santa free stuff.  But I didn't.  I charged him minimal for my mother's things.

"Cool!" I thought.  "I've met a REAL Santa Claus!" 

Well, the second day of the estate sale another gentleman walked up to the tables and I thought, "What?  Is this ANOTHER Santa Claus?"

And lo and behold, it was Santa Bill. A different Santa Claus at my mother's estate sale.  So this Santa and I talked and I even called my twin out to meet this different Santa from the day before. 

Now, by this time two Santas in two days was really getting pretty freaky. Just how many times can one meet two Santas in two days? 

Unlikely, I say.  But it did happen. . . for real.

 

And then I thought, "Maybe these Santas are drawn to my name:  Merry!' 

Anyway, yesterday as I was winding my way through the tunnel at Shands Hospital to the newly built Shands Cancer Center, I ended up on an elevator with a third Santa Claus. . . Santa Dennis. 

 

Since I always get lost in the tunnel leading from "Big Shands" to the "Cancer Shands", I asked this gentleman, "Are you going to the main hospital?" 

"Yes," he answered.  But in the meantime I stared at this fellow.   I recognized this face.  I recognized this beard.  I recognized Santa Claus.

So, I asked, "Are YOU a Santa?"

"Yes, I am," he answered.

And then I asked if he had gone to my mother's estate sale and he said, "No.  That was probably Santa John."

And then this third Santa told me that there are hundreds of Santas in Florida and they have an organization they belong to, much like the Stained Glass Association of America.  He told me Santa Bill and Santa John are from the area and that he worked out of Alachua.

Eventually, this third Santa and I parted our ways and I wondered about his visit to Shands Cancer Center.  I know he made my day brighter.  I just wonder if my asking him questions about his life made his brighter?

I guess I'll never know. 

Anyway, check out this website for a local Santa. So, go to this website if you are in need of a nearby local Santa.