Kjel.org made a visit to the Meier and Frank downtown last night to see the Chief Holiday Elf, and visit his Land. Thinking SantaLand was on the 2nd floor I hopped onto an escalator. Then another. Then another. And so on. It turns out SantaLand is on the 10th floor. CFO and Jr. took an elevator.
Gotta hand it to Meier and Frank: the SantaLand experience is not nearly as insanity producing as the name might imply. The CEO tried to steel himself for his time in the Land of Santa. I’d even considered prepping myself Bad Santa style. However, the expected unpleasantness failed to materialize. This in part is due to Santa himself, as the way he’s built his Land is genius: while the parents hold their spot in line for pictures with the jolly old elf, restless kids can go run around in Santaland and ride the elevated monorail that runs around the whole thing, waving to mom and Mr. Claus the whole time.
The CEO appreciated Santa’s whole operation. The line moved relatively quickly, there were a lot of people there but it never seemed crowded, there was no irritating piped in holiday music, and the SantaLand staff had the whole thing down to a science. St. Nick himself was a pro, and seemed genuinely happy to be there and talk to the kids. That Santa is a stronger man than me, I tell you. He was the polar opposite of this fellow below. Polar, Santa, North Pole, get it? Man the CEO is funny.
When it was Jr.’s turn to see the Chief Elf he was not exactly thrilled, but neither did he cry or scream. It’s not often I hand him off to random old men seated in a department store (not anymore anyway, after the Nordstrom incident last summer), so I think he didn’t know just quite what to make of the situation. The CFO got some nice pictures of the boy and St. Nick with her new camera, and of course we ordered some pics from Santa’s official photographer as well.
It’s really too bad that Jr. can’t talk yet: he couldn’t tell Santa what he’d like for Christmas this year. I guess Santa won’t be coming to our house. I’m going to help Jr. leave treats out for Mr. Claus on Christmas Eve, just in case he manages to make it. Cheese, Yukon Jack and cookies. I have a feeling Santa will approve.
