What I really wanted to do was be a cabinet maker, make furniture. But then all these trades had massive layoffs. I had a cousin who knew about data processing, computers, so that’s where I ended up. It came easy to me, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do.

I’ve had this beard since 1974. I was doing Santa when the beard was black and I had to take white hair paint and spray it. The beard turned white around 2012. So that’s when I decided, “Now is the time to do this.” I said, “OK, now we need some wardrobe.” I had to get a Santa suit — a good suit. Santa suits go from several hundred to two grand.

Now, I put on some Christmas music and I get ready. As soon as you put that jacket on, you are who you’re portraying. And every adult, there’s still a part of you that’s a kid on the inside, to be 6 years old again and remember when you really believed in that story of Santa Claus — the presents and Santa coming down the chimney. I remember snow falling against a streetlamp, the smell of my mother making Christmas cookies, a certain meal cooking. It was a magical thing.

I have three Santa suits. One is more like a robe with a waistcoat and it comes with knickers, and a belt is a few hundred dollars, so it’s not cheap. You’re gonna do it? Do it right.

It brings me phenomenal joy — and tears. This one girl, maybe 7 or 8, sat on my lap and these tears were coming down her cheeks. I said, “What’s the matter?” She said, “My little brother, he’s in the hospital, something’s wrong with his brain. I want my brother to come home.” And you’re sitting there. What do I say to a kid like that? You never know what’s going to happen.

But the joy? Yeah, absolutely. When you do it right, you’ve got to understand, you have a role to play, but you have to feel it — you have to be that person. For the time that you’re doing it, you have to be that person. And most Santas know that.

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