25
“
Home For The Holidays” November 21, 2012 A Lincoln Daily News Magazine Copyright 2012
Now, confessions to Santa are confidential,
but Bell said the child had done something
that hurt someone she really did care about.
He talked to her a few minutes and told her
there was still time to get back squarely on the
nice list, but she would have to do something
to earn it. She needed to go to the person she
hurt and sincerely say she was sorry, and then
she had to spend the rest of
the time between now and
Christmas being as good as
she could possibly be.
The little girl was quite
relieved to know she could
fix her naughtiness and
promised she would do
exactly what she was told.
Bell also works for Santa
in visiting local schools.
He visits with children and
collects their letters. He reads the letters and
relays messages to the North Pole.
He said some of the letters are very touching
and others are somewhat comical, but he and
Santa take them all very seriously.
Bell remembered letters he’s received just
this season. Requests for dolls and games are
always big, but sometimes one or two really
strike a chord with him. He offered as an
example a child who wrote and asked for no
toys at all.
The letter said, “I don’t want to be an
ordinary kid.” It went on to say, “I want to be
remembered.”
Bell said those letters and the ones that
mention parents who are ill or having some
kind of problem really tug at his heartstrings.
Many of the letters include inquiries about
the elves, the reindeer and even Mrs. Claus.
One letter in particular this year brought joy
to Bell and Santa as well, as a youngster said
all he wanted was to come and live with Santa,
work at the North Pole and be exactly like him.
Bell said being Santa is something that he
loves to do, and it has really become a big part
of his life.
Those who knowBell know that he is a three-
time cancer survivor. His first opportunity to be
Santa came while he was battling the disease.
Bell said it was a tough time, and he wasn’t
the happiest person around, but taking on the
persona of Santa for the Lincoln Christmas
Parade started a change in him. Maybe that,
too, was part of the Santa
magic.
That first time, he wore a
Santa suit that had belonged
to the father of a good
friend. He called and asked
if he could borrow the suit,
and the friend said, “No…
but you can have it.” The
suit was over 50 years old
and just loaded with Santa
magic.
Bell wore a fake beard that year, but the real
beard started coming in by the next fall, and
for his second Christmas, Santa Bell was the
real thing.
Because of his experiences, Bell said he
makes a Santa visit each year to the cancer
treatment ward at Memorial Hospital, where
he visits with adults who are working to win
a battle. He marvels at how they receive him,
because he can see that even though they are
grown, they still believe in the power of wishes,
and therefore, they still believe in Santa.
Bell says Santa Claus is not really about
making lists, writing letters and getting gifts;
it’s about giving, believing and having faith.
For him, it’s about giving joy to kids and
adults; it’s about giving back to a community
that is important to him; and it’s about being
happy and having that wonderful Christmas
spirit every day of the year.
And, he says having that spirit is not all that
difficult. All one has to do is be the best person
they know how to be every day of the year,
care about others and believe in the magic.
[
Nila Smith]