WHEN I SPOTTED SANTA at the grocery store yesterday, I decided to get my picture taken with him. You’re never too old for Santa, right? But the Jolly Old Man didn’t even notice me, so busy was he guzzling his Coca-Cola while marketing Coke products.
I hadn’t considered that Santa would need a side job, especially during the hectic holiday season. Isn’t managing the elves, feeding the reindeer, making public appearances, reviewing kids’ Christmas lists and packing the sleigh enough for one man to handle?
But I suppose Santa, like all of us, is feeling the effects of higher prices. He’s paying tariffs on parts the elves can’t make. Mrs. Claus needs baking ingredients that have skyrocketed in price. The North Pole toy workshop heating bill is likely high, even higher than in icebox Minnesota. So Santa probably welcomes the extra income from his grocery store side hustle.
Undeterred by Santa turning his back on me, I cozied up to him and asked my dear husband to snap a photo. Randy obliged, but not without a look of concern. I didn’t care. I needed a spark of fun in my day. Santa obviously paid me no mind.
Now, if the marketer of Coke products, the supervisor of elves, the giver of wonderful gifts had taken the time to chat with me, I would have handed him a Christmas wish list. What I’d really like Santa to bring to this world, especially this country, are compassion, kindness, respect, empathy, peace and love.
In all reality, Santa can’t deliver on that. Only we can.
THOUGHTS?
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
great picture!
Thanks!
Wonderful post!
Thank you!
Love it and let’s add in the FUN even as adults 🙂 Amen to compassion, kindness, respect, empathy, peace, and love. Let’s add in some courtesy, respect, and just letting the littlest slights just go (talking recently about what happen to being the bigger person as well as acting like no tantrum needed, especially the adults). Thanks for sharing – I needed some whimsy and magic today! Now I have Santa is coming to town singing in my head . . . SING IT!!!
Letting the littlest slights go…good idea.
Always appreciate your comments!
We could all use some compassion, kindness, respect, empathy, peace and love… and hopefully pass them on…
YES!
Agree!
Welcome to the comments section! Happy to have you here.
Thank you. I’m really enjoying making new WP friends.
I’ll check out your work shortly. WP is a great place to make friends. I’ve become real life friends with a number of people I’ve met via blogging. I find this to be a caring and supportive community.
I’ve noticed that! ♥♥♥
yes, santa definitely needs to have a second job this year just to make ends meet. I love your wish list and I’d like to add hope to the list if I may. thank you for this sweet post, I think we all need a dose of this good cheer at this time of year, and especially this year -<3
Hope is the perfect word to add to this wish list for Santa. Hope is one of my favorite words. 🙂