The Sack Man-SMR

This Saturday Morning Rewind is from Christmas 2022.

It all started back in 1980 when I volunteered to be the Santa at the NAS Glenview Air Base during my first year of enlistment. Then, the CO of CGAS Chicago asked me to do it for the Coast Guard Christmas party. Then, a few of the guys on the crew asked me to do it for their kids. The word spread, and eventually, I donned the red suit and beard, along with a sack of toys, to visit hospitals, homes, and participate in "Breakfast with Santa" for nearly 20 years.

I recounted those Santa moments in my 2nd book, "Every Moment Matters," and how much like Superman putting on his cape, every Christmas Eve when I put on the Kringle gear, I felt a bit supercharged, and watching the faces of young and old alike break into a smile when I was near was like winning the lottery. 

Music used by permission of the John Denver estate.