The Photo with Santa and Christmas Shopping

I did something today that I rarely if ever do, and that is go shopping let alone Christmas shopping. My wife and I took the children for the annual photo with Santa at the nearest shopping mall.  WIth all the children in tow ages 23 to 12 we made the trip to see Santa.  The annual photograph with Santa has been a tradition for 23 years, and my wife has the photo album to prove it.  The older the children get the less co-operative they are about having their photo taken with the big man, however the power of motherly guilt prevails, and it turned out to be a good afternoon.  My wife tells the children this is all she wants for Christmas, and if they don't do it then their mother will go without the only Christmas gift she wants.  Through the years a few of the photos have been less than stellar, but no matter we get that photograph.  Those 23 years of photos have captured memories that are even outside the view of the photos.  Tradition and memories; even those memories outside the view of the camera are preserved through photographs.  Something else that I noticed today, and I have noticed it more-and-more as of late: non-traditional characters are cropping up in the traditionally accepted view of Christmas. For example: The Salvation Army volunteer bell ringers. We all see them, and know them as they are readily recognizable as they typically wear a Santa costume, or at least a Christmas sweater and red hat. I always drop a dollar or two as the Salvation Army does great work for neighbors in need in the community, but today was well, different:  Darth Vader was a Salvation Army bell ringer today - Merry Christmas!

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