Sure enough—he was the real deal. And who did he think he was fooling with those shades? Certainly, not me. Incognito on a wind still summer’s afternoon—that’s what he was—a living, breathing, incognito San Francisco treat. 
But a cable car operator? As good a disguise as any, I suppose. They do come into contact with all sorts of people—naughty ones, nice ones…
*Ding! Ding!*
“Ho! All aboard!” he cried.
The cigarette hanging from the side of his white whiskered lips might have thrown others off, but not me. It wasn’t even lit—a sure sign of someone who had quit smoking because he wanted to set a good example, yet still enjoyed the ‘cool’ feeling his habit had afforded him in his youth. He had probably been much slimmer then too, before all those cookies and mugs of hot cocoa had had a chance to settle around his waist.
*Ding! Ding!*
“Ho! Ho! Off we go!” he cried.
Oh yeah—it was him.
One year later, to the day, I saw him again.
He should have used permanent dye to color his beard. Then I might not have noticed him as we prepared to leave port. But then, if he had really not wanted to be recognized, he should have shaved it off all together. His new shades were definitely an improvement when it came to remaining anonymous though. The black, opaque lenses obscured the existence of any eyes, let alone a pair of glistening blue ones.
*Ding! Ding!*
“Ho! All aboard!” he cried.
Staring at him, I pretended I was looking at the ancient aircraft-carrier size islands of ice and blinding-white mountains of packed frozen snow floating in the bay above his knit cap.
Had his hat been any color other than red, I might have been swayed from my conviction.
*Ding! Ding!*
The mild breeze smelled of the morning’s catch stacked behind our small boatful of adventurers.
“Ho! Ho! Off we go!” he cried.
Ahhhhh—Yes, of course! We are just north of the Arctic Circle—he must be heading home.
There were, after all, only one-hundred-and-thirty-three days left until Christmas.
This weeks blog post seems rather inane in light of the tragedy that took place in Boston just two days ago, but sometimes we need to be distracted from the inconceivable curve balls life throws at us. Here’s wishing you a lifetime of safe home runs.
Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner 
The “Ho ho” is also a dead give-away 🙂 Very observant of you to spy him out like that Donna!
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I know. If he really wanted to stay inconspicuous, he should drop it, right?
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Donna. I am not sure I quite understood. Is it the same person or someone who reminded you of him (the one in the first picture)? Because the bespectacled, bearded guy in the second picture seems a completely different guy.
Or is there some poetic analogy I am missing? Please enlighten.
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Very observant. It’s a different guy. I was just having fun with thinking “What does Santa do on his days off?”
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Oh so THATS where he goes…. 😉
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I think he makes the rounds…keep an eye out!
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Fun post! We need these reminders all the time, but particularly as a re-alignment this week. Thanks so much, Donna! xo
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Thanks Liz!
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Thanks Donna, I really enjoyed this post! Santa as a cable car operator – I buy that!
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…and I’m sure you’ve seen him Tony. You just weren’t aware of who he was. Love your SF photos!
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Love it! And yes, it was nice to be able to smile at something fun and silly after this week’s events. Thank you.
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Thanks AKT!
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very cute! I wasn’t sure about the aircraft carrier description. I had to read that one a couple of times. great imagination. The cable car operator really does look like Santa. – not that I’ve ever met him myself.
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I was pressed for time…I think I’ll go back and fix it. Thanks!
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