Ben Harpe

Our Papa Is Santa, Too? Ben Harpe

When our daughter asked me to be Santa Claus for our first grandson, our little grandson Jeffrey, who loves me, and I love him, how could I say no? I couldn't. I told her I would rent a Santa suit, wig and beard and plan accordingly to be available for when she wanted me to make my "appearance" for Jeffrey. She said "No Dad. You can rent a Santa suit, but I want you to let your hair and beard grow out so it'll be the real thing". Surprise. My hair has been white for quite a few years. Being an old Marine, I always kept my hair neatly cut and fairly short. I had no idea what my beard would look like, although I suspected it would be mostly white, also. Throughout my entire career, and raising our two children, I had never had any facial hair. Even our son asked, "Is that you Dad?" when we met him at the airport some months later. Thus began my most recent Santa Claus venture. And, it has been more fun than I ever imagined it could be. So please sit back, relax and enjoy, from my perspective, what it's like to be Santa Claus. I think you will be surprised and amazed at some of what I have seen and heard. I know I am. And that's exactly why I decided to write this book. You just can't make this stuff up.