Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noel! Buon Natale! Rrhaa Grrrh! and all that jazz!
Until this time of year in 2015, I had no idea that humans ever felt compelled to stuff themselves, as well as us. It was then, that Bob carried in the rotund fellow in the red suit and put him on stage for that season, and each December after. At first I was a little creeped out. Instinctively, I knew he was harmless …too big to be agile…and with long hair and beard as white as snow, too old to be quick. And like me, deadly still, while people were in the bar. However, Santa, (they like to name stuffed creatures names beginning with “S”) had a cord coming out of him that plugged into the wall and made him move. Creepy. Back and forth his whole body went. And his arm and hand with it…like a conductor leading an orchestra….like a pope blessing the faithful…like a slow old man with huge blue eyes pretending to direct traffic. Many of the humans… musicians, staff and guests…were taken off guard and giggled or shivered or posed for photos with him. But, I realized he was famous, and homage is paid differently in their collective. The Santa experience has led me to view my place among the humans in a new light. I now understand that I’m in a significant position of honor…like Santa. And at least he’s only here for a couple of fortnights and has kept to himself when they leave at night. No matter, I keep one ear tuned in….I don’t want a musty smelling old man in red sneaking up on me….creepy!