My letters are usually political or environmental in nature. And even with an environmental disaster of epic proportion raging in the Gulf and a very interesting primary behind us, I’d like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to a man who I, until recently, knew very little about.

I didn’t know his name; I didn’t know his age; I didn’t know he had children. I don’t know what his political affiliation was or where he stood on climate change. I don’t care.

He was a kind and caring soul. I have perhaps 10 pictures of him in my special pictures place. I knew him, like many in our community, simply as Santa Claus.

A highlight of our Christmas season was going to Toys R Us to have our children’s picture taken with this amazing man. There was always a line and usually a long wait. No one seemed to mind. We knew when it was our turn Santa would treat us like we were the only people there.

I always enjoyed watching him talk with the families ahead of us.

One year I was privileged to witness something amazing. A family, probably, like my own, a blended family was trying, unsuccessfully to get their oldest son, who was maybe 16, to join in a family portrait.

Like a typical teenage boy he wasn’t happy about it. His two preschool-age sisters couldn’t have been happier, but he wanted none of it.

Santa said, “Let me try.”

He walked off the platform and spoke privately with the boy. Within minutes he had him laughing.

Then a small Christmas miracle happened.

This sullen, angry teenage boy put his arm around Santa, walked back up on the sleigh and smiled a very genuine smile with his family for one of the most beautiful pictures I’ve ever seen.

I’d like to thank Erin and Elyssa for letting us borrow your dad every year, and I’d like to thank Dennis Van Vuren, aka Santa Claus, for teaching so many of us the true meaning of Christmas. We will miss you.
Sherry Jensen
Thousand Oaks