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Why This Christmas Eve Visit Made Santa Cry
Originally published December 24, 2012 (updated November 2013) It was the morning of Christmas Eve, and once again, it did not feel like Christmas. It had been years since I last celebrated Christmas – but I remember it well. It was in 1983, at my Mom and Dad’s place, in Midland, Ontario. My family always…
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Why Santa Danny Is Coming To Town Earlier This Year
Santa Danny is coming to town earlier this year because our apartment building(s) are having a Christmas Party on Saturday, December 7, 2024. This will be my second time visiting kids aged 1 month to 110 years at the apartment building where I live. I am a bit out of the loop on how many…
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This Is Why Santa Danny Cried Today (2019)
Originally published December 24, 2019. Today is Christmas Eve, and I went to the cancer center in Surrey, BC. I was treated there ten years ago and volunteered for almost five years. I had a suitcase on wheels that held my Santa Claus outfit; Santa shouldn’t ever be driving around in a car, because kids…
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Not a Creature Was Stirring on Christmas Eve
Originally published on December 24, 2012 It was the morning of Christmas Eve, and once again, it didn’t feel like Christmas. It had been years since I last celebrated Christmas – but I remember it well. It was in 1983 at my parents’ place in Midland, Ontario. My family always got together to celebrate Christmas…
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Why Santa Claus Arrived Early This Year
A few weeks ago, I wrote a story about why I loved living in my White Rock apartment, and now I have added another reason to love where I live. My regular readers know that I am a close friend of Santa Claus and have his permission to represent him as Santa Danny. And here…
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Why Is Santa So Skinny Now?
Many stores are already displaying their Christmas merchandise, which will undoubtedly prompt children to begin thinking about Old Saint Nick. This old Saint got a note from one of those children this morning, and it almost broke my heart. It was from a girl Santa Danny used to visit each year on the last Sunday…
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A Message from Santa
Although Santa Danny will not be visiting again this year, because of the Covid restrictions – he still gets the Christmas Spirit. And so does his friends Anita (aka Gorgeous) and Ralph (aka Handsome), who are also his landlords. Anita sent me a beautiful message the other day and I wanted to share it with…
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A Long Sentence
This was the first year that I did not go to the police station to get my fingerprints taken, as I do each year, to confirm that I do not have a criminal record and that allows me, as Santa Claus, to show parents and others responsible for children’s welfare, that their charges are safe…
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Because All Good Things Usually End
All good things usually end ‘because’ nothing seems to last forever, except one thing; LOVE. Today, I received a renewal notice from the website hosting company that provides me with this platform to tell my stories. I’ve been writing here since 2010, but now find it challenging to write about happy things. Although there is…
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Cold Feet, Holly, and a CT Scan
It used to be a relatively simple thing to do – buying a pair of slippers. Then again, a lot of stuff used to be simpler than they are nowadays. I hate sounding like one of those old-timers who used to tell me how things were better ‘back in the day.’ But at least things…
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All My Love, From Me to You
It’s almost Christmas, and I’ve been rushing around to see as many friends as possible – and sending all my love from me to you! But seeing everyone before Saint Nick arrives on Wednesday will be impossible. So, I decided to post some photos and video clips about some of them. I’ll be adding stuff…
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A Christmas Miracle At Massey Hall
Ever known or met someone who then becomes famous? I have. But that isn’t what my A Christmas Miracle at Massey Hall story is about. Let me explain. I once auditioned for a short film produced and directed by Drew Scott, a local actor/real estate salesman/producer. It was before I had cancer and was much heavier than…
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Now There’s A Fair Lady in Fairhaven
After a short series of emails, Tom, Margaret, Norm, and I got together for an impromptu walk in the village of Fairhaven, Washington. So, my gal pal, Margaret, was now designated as “a fair lady in Fairhaven.’ Norm’s wife, Gina, wasn’t able to join us because she was volunteering at the Food Bank. Margaret is…
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Santa’s Cancer Message From The Great White North
Yesterday, I got Santa Claus’s cancer message from The Great White North, asking me to cover for him again this year while he helps fund a cure for cancer. But Santa Danny is only allowed to receive Love and Money. Love is the fuel that drives Santa Danny, and money is what he hopes to…
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An Empty Bucket List
In January 2010, I got a call from David McDonald, who was a film student at Simon Fraser University. At the time, his graduating class was producing their final film project, and David wanted me to be in their film. I was in his class’s first-year film project ‘Dead Air’ which was my first film…
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I Never Gave Up On The Tooth Fairy
There is often a situation when I’ve thought seriously about giving up on a particular dream, but there has always been a reason for continuing the chase – because ever since I was a little boy, I never gave up on the Tooth Fairy. I remember a saying I learned when I was little Danny,…
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Why I Never Got Up on Wrong Side of Bed
When I was growing up, if I were ever sad or in a bad mood, people would often ask, “What’s wrong with you – get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?” Because back then, I shared a bedroom with three younger brothers. I mention this only to point out that in…
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Do You Still Believe in Magic?
Dear reader, do you still believe in magic – like when you were a kid? It wouldn’t be an easy day for me to be Santa Claus because I was having difficulty trying to smile. But it wasn’t because I’d be alone on Christmas Day. And it wasn’t because I felt sorry for myself –…
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Notes from the North Pole
In 2009, I was diagnosed with stage 3 throat cancer and given only a 40% chance of surviving. Not knowing how much time I had left and that I hadn’t celebrated Christmas for many years – I wanted to see if I could get that same holiday spirit I used to get when I was a kid. …
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Gifts And Expressions of Love
I never expected to receive a Christmas gift this year, but I did. I got two presents, and both came as a complete surprise. They were the first gifts I’d received at Christmas in a very long time, and at first, I hesitated about opening them. But I’ll get back to the gifts of love…
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Why Santa Danny Raises Money for Cancer
Yesterday, Santa Danny visited the University of British Columbia’s Oral Cancer Department in Vancouver to present a cheque for oral cancer research at the university and BC Cancer Foundation. He also visited with the Faculty of Dentistry staff, where Danny gave his speech during their Research Day in January 2016. Dr. Laronde invited me, as…
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Nothing Was Stirring Until This Happened
Originally published on December 24, 2012 It was the morning of Christmas Eve, and once again, nothing was stirring until this happened – Santa came to town! It had been years since I last celebrated Christmas – but I remember it well. It was in 1983 at my parents’ place in Midland, Ontario. My family…
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This School Visit Made Santa Cry (2015)
It’s early on Wednesday morning, and I am preparing Santa for his most painful official visit – to talk to the students of Nicomekl Elementary School, in Langley. Visiting patients at the Cancer Center isn’t very difficult for Santa Danny because he, too, has had cancer, and he knows what most of the patients are…