Somehow, I often end up playing Santa Claus. The first time, was when my oldest son was four, and in preschool.
No one else could do it.
I got a lot of horn honking and waving on the drive over to the preschool suited up.
My wife and I wondered if he'd recognize me.
He didn't at first, but then said, "Is that you Dad?"
"Shhhh." I said, "I'm helping Santa out, as he couldn't get here because of a problem at the toy factory. It's taken care of, but he couldn't get down here fast enough."
He bought it.
He believed in Santa until he was about 10, whereupon he wanted to be in on the secret about which his little brother didn't know, helping to distribute the gifts under the tree while his brother was sleeping.
For the last 10 years, I've been Santa on the job for the company Christmas Party. (The majority of people with whom I work are Hindus.) It's a perk of being old, fat, and grey with the remaining hair.
Nobody uses my name all morning. I'm "Santa" to everyone. Everyone wants their picture taken with me.
Don't kid yourselves. Adults get into as much as kids.
I'm kind of tired of doing it, but can't get out of it. It's now a tradition.
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