Bowen children were twice lucky last weekend as Santa Claus attended not one, but two island events. Claus, who said he is “crazy busy” this time of year, arrived Saturday for the Light Up Bowen festivities then spent the night at a mid-island Airbnb before appearing at the Community School Association’s Christmas craft fair on Sunday.
In an exclusive interview with The Undercurrent, the gift-giving man in red said his habit upon visiting Bowen is to park his sleigh atop Mt. Gardner and hike down, leaving Rudolph, Dasher et al. up there to graze overnight.
“This is an active month for them, too,” Claus said. “So they use the time to relax, have a bite and socialize with some of the local deer.”
During his trip down the mountain, Claus often passes those islanders who love to run loose in nature, such as Billie Lieske and her son, Skipper, but said those he encounters allow him his privacy. He does enjoy saying hello however, but prefers to avoid fielding complaints about gifts he may have missed in Christmasses past.
“I saw former candidate for mayor Tim Rhodes and his wife, Darcie Buzzelle, hiking up the mountain last year,” Santa said. “I thought ‘oh boy, here we go.’ You see in 2014 he asked for 15 more votes for the election but I wasn’t able to wrap them up in time. Anyhow, Tim is a real gentleman, he simply wished me a nice weekend and continued his hike.”
Claus did say that he thought Buzzelle may have given him a bit of a cold shoulder.
The kindly gentleman has been coming to Light Up Bowen since it began in the early 90s. He pointed out that for the first few years there were no lanterns involved, they were added a few years later. This year’s celebration included a nativity scene, a choir and a Nutcracker toy soldier display that was made of humans, like island student Geoff McKay.
On Saturday evening, as he does each year, he met with employees of Cormorant Marine and they took him for a boat ride out into Snug Cove to await the signal to come in.
“I don’t like to fool people but it’s a small subterfuge, the ‘arrival’ by boat,” Claus said. “Besides, I enjoy the novelty of making my entrance over water and the kids rather like it.”
Alighting from the Barney Mack tugboat at the USSC Marina dock at 7:20, after waving to the mob of children and their adults (over 300 strong), Claus moved on to his traditional spot at Doc Morgan’s, where kids took turns visiting him. The jolly fellow says he is forever impressed with how robust Bowen children are. He also mentioned how much he enjoys Doc’s.
“So many young islanders have worked there, kids I once brought toys over for,” Claus noted. “I am told that recently Marie Pedley, Amy P. Nicholls-Pennington, Myah Grundy, Ellen and Drake Nickle, Kylie Lightbody, Bailey and her...oh, you get the picture, lots of ‘em have earned a salary at Doc’s. Wonderful!”
Before retiring for the night Saturday, Claus said he had a request to test out a chimney for a new home off Sunset. As it turned out the chimney was a little narrow and he got soot upon his beard so, in case anyone noticed Sunday, he pointed out that it looked much darker. Off he went to the crafts fair anyhow!
“It was a lovely and lively event,² he said. “But the BICS gym with all those booths full of fabulous homemade crafts was so crowded I decided to spend my time upstairs with the children. And there were plenty of amusing Bowen kids to talk with on that day, too.
“There was Emma, Connor, Wyatt, Paisley, CJ, Will, Keira, Shea, Kadence, Hudson, Caius and Vale,” Santa said. “Oh and Loic, Cole, Ryuki, Harvest, Livia, Lochlan, Amelia, William, photographer Paul and elves Connie, Holly and Tammy made sure we got great pictures, even of the ones who cried!”
At last the time came for Claus to hike back up to his sleigh, but not before wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.
“And who knows," he teased as he turned to head up the trail. “Perhaps on some future Christmas, you Bowen Islanders will find a new Community Hall and Arts Center underneath some of your beautiful trees. Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!”
And with that, he trudged off.
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable interview with surely the most generous person to ever set boot upon the Happy Isle. Merry Christmas to YOU, Santa!
