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Mature Worker Program provides older workers a second chance

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Transition from Tom Leighton to Tony George somewhat bumpy

<p>EVERYWHERE &#8212; Santa Claus is and always will be real.</p><p>I&#8217;m talking about the jolly old elf who works all year to get ready for his annual global trek, delivering presents to all good boys and girls.</p><p>Santa never disappoints. Somehow, he manages to know exactly what gifts to bring and he carries them all in his sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer, with the red-nosed Rudolph leading the way.</p><p>While good little boys and girls sleep, Santa lands his sleigh on the roofs of their houses, drops down the chimney and places gifts under the tree.</p><p>In what may be the most challenging part of his job, Santa devours cookies and milk at just about every house he visits.</p><p>I have always marveled at this man&#8217;s incredible energy level and his stamina, not to mention his longevity. How old is this guy?</p><p>It was with much anticipation I approached my interview with Santa at his home. Apparently, Santa has been living in South Wilkes-Barre for some time now. On Grebe Street, of all places. I&#8217;m told he keeps several other residences, as well &#8212; he may live next door to you, too.</p><p>I knocked on the door. Santa answered. We shook hands and he invited me to have a seat in his living room. Mrs. Claus was in the kitchen preparing dinner.</p><p>Santa sat in his chair next to his Christmas tree. He was, as the poem goes, a right jolly elf. He laughed a lot &#8212; a hearty laugh and even several &#8220;ho, ho, hos&#8221; came out.</p><p>Santa answered all my questions and never even asked me if I had been naughty or nice. He knew. I could tell he knew. I&#8217;m hoping for the best this year. A big screen TV would be nice, I told him. He didn&#8217;t say yes, but he didn&#8217;t say no, either.</p><p>I asked him what he enjoys the most about being Santa. His answer was quick &#8212; &#8220;The kids,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Definitely the kids.&#8221;</p><p>Santa said there is something about watching each child as he or she approaches him. He talked about that glistening in their eyes, their anticipation and sometimes their apprehension.</p><p>Santa knows kids can get a little anxious when they come face to face with him. It&#8217;s one thing to see Santa on TV or in a book or in a parade. To actually see him up close and personal can be intimidating.</p><p>Kids get nervous because they don&#8217;t want to mess up. The last thing they want to do is give Santa a reason to scratch things off his or her list.</p><p>Santa can&#8217;t mess up, either. He can&#8217;t give any child a reason to think he might not be real &#8212; that it might just be Pop-Pop or Uncle Bill under that beard and red suit.</p><p>No way could that happen. After all, Santa is the real deal and he can&#8217;t risk having anybody &#8212; especially older kids &#8212; start rumors that there is no Santa Claus.</p><p>Santa is always prepared when he enters a room, whether it be at a school, a mall, a department store or a church. He will be ready to deal with all who take the time to come see him.</p><p>He knows how to send a message, too. For instance, he knows when to ask a kid how their dog, Fido, is doing. Like one kid said to his parents, &#8220;That&#8217;s the real Santa. He even knows the dog!&#8221;</p><p>Santa said there are tough times, too. Like when a child asks him to bring his dad back home, or to pray for his little sister or brother, or grandparent.</p><p>Sometimes kids ask for things even Santa and his elves can&#8217;t provide &#8212; unicorns are a good example.</p><p>We talked about the report that Santa has &#8220;helpers&#8221; in places he can&#8217;t be. Santa said that&#8217;s just a rumor; he assured me he is, indeed, everywhere.</p><p>Sometimes, Santa said, he takes on different forms. He might look just like someone&#8217;s mommy or daddy, or granny or pop pop, or even an aunt or uncle. You just might not realize it&#8217;s him at times, but it is.</p><p>He also told me he does see us when we&#8217;re sleeping; he knows when we&#8217;re awake and he really does know if we&#8217;ve been bad or good.</p><p>After sitting with Santa for more than an hour, I was convinced. Not that I ever doubted Santa was real, but sometimes I wondered how the guy can do this every year, especially at his age &#8212; again, whatever that may be.</p><p>Santa leaned back and smiled. He can understand how some people might think he&#8217;s a spirit or a figment of the imagination. Or that he might just be a symbol for all that is wrong with Christmas. You know, that whole materialistic argument.</p><p>But Santa knows Christmas is, for many, a celebration of the Christian observance of the birth of Jesus Christ. He gets that, but said he has a job to do too.</p><p>Before Santa sent me on my way, he told me to never forget he is always around. Sometimes, he can be seen wearing that famous red-and-white suit and other times, he&#8217;s right there next to parents as they decorate a tree. He&#8217;s next to the cashier at the toy store. He&#8217;s around the corner at the big box electronics store. He&#8217;s whispering in the ear of Mom or Dad.</p><p>Sometimes, he won&#8217;t answer to Santa. He might be in disguise. At times like this, his name might be Paul, or Crusher, or Ricky or even Mom or Dad.</p><p>Santa Claus is real, alright. As real as real can be. To think otherwise would be foolish.</p><p>One last tip from Santa &#8212; get to bed early. Santa never knows what time he will get to your house.</p><p>I&#8217;ve never been to the North Pole, but I don&#8217;t need to go there to verify what I already know.</p><p>Santa Claus is and always will be very real.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Bill O&#8217;Boyle </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Oboyle_Bill-2-1-7.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bill O&#8217;Boyle </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_mcdonough_santa-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Santa Claus talks about his upcoming global trek of delivering presents. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_mcdonough_santa-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Santa Claus talks about his upcoming global trek of delivering presents. </caption1><photoCredit1>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle. For more inmformation on the real Santa Claus, call or send an email.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

In Focus: Santa Claus has always been real