Please note right now that this column is not to be read by little children.
With that warning, I want to talk about Santa Claus.
Yes, I know Santa personally. He is a good friend in the offices of the Slidell City Council, and I stop by to see him every now and then to talk about city business.
OK, so this particular Santa is Tommy Reeves, who is the administrator for the City Council. He is an important person to me since he knows everything you might ask about city business and finances. Needless to say, he is an important asset for this newspaper, and I appreciate how much he helps me understand city issues.
But Tommy is also Santa. Sure, I know there are other Santa people out there, and thank goodness there are guys who are willing to put on the costume.
When I stopped by the other day, Tommy was brushing out his wig and beard for a performance that night. I looked at the dry-cleaned costume and immediately began to think that the gig was not so easy. You have to dress up in this very heavy costume, not to mention the hair and beard, then be the happiest person in the world when you enter a scene with little children. And maybe it’s a day that wasn’t so great for you.
Tommy was first asked to play the big guy in 2006 when the Junior Auxiliary was hosting a party at the Slidell Head Start. Since then, and certainly once word got around that he didn’t mind putting the costume on, he has gotten calls every year.
When I asked how much he got paid for doing the Santa gig, he laughed.
“Once somebody gave me $100 because I rode on a boat on the bayou for about four hours,” he said.
But no, he isn’t interested in the money. He said that once he puts on the suit, “the magic happens,” and he finds lots of enthusiasm and joy. He said, “I love doing it.”
I was happy to hear that since I could only think that it had to be difficult to turn on the laughs, smiles and patience for little children. But apparently, there is a secret, and it comes when he dons the costume.
People like Tommy are pretty special, and you can bet there are tons of little kids since 2006 who think the exact same thing.
Thanks for the interview, Santa.
—-
If you are looking for a unique Christmas present, and if you know someone who enjoys a special adult beverage, then I have a tip for you.
My friend Moody Ayyad, owner of Moody’s Time Saver at the corner of Gause Boulevard and Pearl Street, advertises his cigarette and liquor prices as being the lowest allowed by the state. And it’s true—he makes the lowest profit possible on those items as a way to generate traffic and get folks to know about the kitchen he runs there with an amazing menu. I can say that since I’ve eaten plenty of it.
One day he showed me a very interesting cabinet in the store. It has bottles of super special items that are considered some of the top, high-quality alcohol you can purchase.
I can tell that he actually enjoys having something so different in a convenience store to sell and even to show people, and then one day when I was there, we started looking it over and I was pretty amazed at some of the products he had.
Certainly, at the top of the list was his A.H. Hirsch Reserve straight Bourbon Whiskey that retails online for $5,299, but he is selling his one bottle for $3,399.
He also has a bottle of Louis XIII Cognac by Remy that he is selling for $3,999.
Other interesting bottles include:
–Selecion Supreme De Herradura Tequila: $269
–Shenk’s Homesteads Kentucky Whiskey: $299
–Dalmore, aged 18 years, Scotch Whiskey: $259
–Widow Jane, aged 15 years, Bourbon Whiskey: $219
There are another dozen or so of various kinds, like Grand Patron Tequila for $169 and D’UsseXO Cognac for $139.
I got thinking that there are a lot of people, yes, quite a few, who would probably love to have a super special bottle of something to drink that would be a prize to show off, but also to save for a special occasion.
If you are having trouble thinking of a different kind of Christmas present for someone who enjoys an adult beverage and would like something pretty special to show to friends, you should stop by and give the cabinet a look.
It’s something you don’t see at too many places, and I know that Moody’s prices are about as low as you could find.
Merry Christmas!
Kevin Chiri can be reached by e-mail at kevinchiri@gmail.com.