Bill Stevens is a second-generation Santa. In this Take-A-Moment segment, he reflects on his childhood interactions with Santa. He also talks about helping his daughter, Melissa, and granddaughter, Evelyn keep the faith. And the 72-year-old shares the reason he believes.
“So, we always had a Christmas gathering at Tomlinson ranch home and Santa Claus would come on Christmas Eve.
I would make comments to, and comparisons, back in Rapid City, South Dakota to little kids my age, about Santa Claus and Christmas experiences I’d had and I noticed my Santa Claus looked a lot different than the other Santa Clauses.
He mysteriously knew all our names. We kind of recognized his voice, but the disguise – you know, we went with the disguise. And then when I got to be pretty close to about 10 or 11-years-old, my cousin, my age, Barb, made some kind of comment when Santa came, because all of the sudden we recognized his boots…and they were our grandpa’s boots.
I was really honored, for about two years, while he was still doing it, he had asked me to come with him. So, I was Santa’s Helper, we would drive to the neighbors’ places. He would just go in to do the Santa stuff. I would just be waiting in the pickup.
I think that is a big part of why I did it - purposely knowing that because it was out of respect and love for Grandpa.
I really, really enjoyed it and I got into the “Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas.”
A couple of years it worked out just fine and Melissa was young enough, she did not recognize me, and finally DeeAnn said, “Bill, I think you need to stop because Melissa is starting to recognize you.”
And then, it got to the point that after Evelyn was just old enough that Melissa and DeeAnn did not want me to spoil it for her. And I really, really missed it.
It is a truism, there is such a thing as Santa. As long as there are people are willing to convey that and enact that, and act as we have learned Santa to behave, in the giving and the kindness and the jolliness – it continues.”
