Top stories and observations:

• 80-plus-year-old lady sincerely asking Santa for World Peace (and not just a tattoo of it). When Santa first denied her request, she and I were both a little devastated. However, he proceeded to ask her to help him, as he couldn’t do it all himself. “World peace starts with you. And it starts with me. If you show kindness to others, I will do the same. That peace and kindness will spread. “ Right there they made a deal, sealing it with a hug.

• For the second year, the Legacy West Team not only agreed but was ecstatic to say “YES, of course” to offering Black Santa. Last year, we didn’t get much traction. However, thanks to the Find Black Santa App, friends telling friends and #ShopPlano helping spread the word, our Sunday offerings have actually had more traction most weekends then White Santa. People have cried, told Santa he was an answer to their prayers.

• And the most beautiful thing about our Black Santa offerings this year is the wide variety of cultures who are signing up for the experience. Black people, white people, those who have come to us from India and Mexico. Imagine what they are teaching their children. My heart runneth over. And as my friend at the gift-wrapping station said to me, “When we get to Heaven, no one’s going to care what color you are; we will all be one big family.” yes, ma’am, so let’s start practicing now.

• Same is true for white Santa. One of my most precious clients (I’ll be staying with C while his baby sister is being born) sent me a text that she’d signed up for Santa. I offered to switch dates if she’d prefer our darker-colored Santa, “It doesn’t matter to me; I just want him to see Santa.”

• Little Miss Tilly was DEATHLY afraid of Santa last year. Sit in his lap? Never. Instead, she happily sat in his stroller while munching away on a cupcake. This year, she came with a boxed cupcake, hopped up in the sleigh and had a dessert-filled date with Santa. 

• Associate photographer Jenny was wrapping things up one Sunday, when here comes a group of barely adults, who may have just had a few too many libations. Let’s just say these were not the most attractive of pictures and Santa was quite uncomfortable as one young lady sprawled, yes, sprawled across his lap. 

Oh the stories we have to tell…

We’d love to hear yours as well. Please share. When we publish that coffee table book, we’ll feature your stories, too.