By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer
This is Santa’s busiest time of the
year, because he’s making his list
and checking it twice while final
preparations are being made for his
yearly trip around the world.
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived at
their Christmas Cottage in Pioneer
Park on Main Street in Cooperstown
Friday, Nov. 27, and have had a hectic
schedule ever since.
The jolly old man in the red suite
says he does not have to worry about
the orders because the elves do that,
but it is his job to greet all the children.
``This has been a pretty average
year, there has not been anything
too extraordinary,’’ said Santa on
Monday.
According to Santa, the line to his
cottage has been very long almost
every day since he began visiting
with children and their families.
Sometimes it’s hard to get done by
the scheduled time, says Santa.
Santa says the state of the economy
has not seemed to have too much
of an impact on what children are
asking for this holiday season. A lot
of children are asking for items that
have been popular for years such as
the American Girl Dolls, Barbie,
Scooters and bicycles, says Santa.
Several of the boys are asking for
electronics such as the WII, and Nintendo
DS and many of the girls are
asking for items such as the easy
bake oven and ice skates, says Santa.
Some rather odd gifts children
have been asking for this year includes
pogo sticks and old board
games such as Sorry and Monopoly,
according to Santa. He says the
youngsters also seem to be into Nerf
guns.
Once in a while a child comes in
and asks for hunting supplies or fishing
gear, which could be a sing of the
times because dad might be depending
on getting a turkey, deer or fish
in order to feed the family, says Santa.
Santa says he always tries to get
a reaction from parents when children
ask for a gift.
``I have not seen too many negative
reactions unless a child asks for
a present that is too old for them (not
age appropriate), says Santa. For example,
Santa says some children as
young as 5-years-old ask for items
such as laptops.
``Most parents want their children
to have a wonderful Christmas,’’
says Santa. ``They want to get their
children what they want within reason.’’
Christmas is not just
about what children want
under their Christmas
trees, says Santa.
``I try to encourage the
kids to think of others who
are less fortunate,’’ he
says.
Santa says people in
the area are very generous,
and he tries to encourage
the youth to continue
the charitable spirit.
This year I have noticed
a lot more children asking
for items for siblings or for
their parents, says Santa.
Santa says he has also
been asking the children if
they have been doing anything
in school to help the
needy, and most have all
said they have been.
Santa will be in his cottage
today from 3-6 p.m.
and on Christmas Eve
from 1-4 p.m. to take last
minute requests. Then he
will be hooking his sleigh
up to his eight reindeer in
order to make his rounds
to every good little girls’
and boys’ house.
A lot of work goes into
preparing for the one magical
night children go to
bed early for, but according
to Santa, getting prepared
means getting one’s
heart prepared.
He says a giant heart is
needed for a great evening.
``Remember the Grinch?
His heart was two sizes
too small,’’ says Santa.
