1 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody, it's Bill Courtney with an army of normal folks. 2 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: And we continue now with part two of our conversation 3 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: with Pat Cook, right after these brief messages from our 4 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:34,200 Speaker 1: Genner sponsors. So your dad was Santa Claus until nineteen 5 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: eighty eight, is what you said? Four? 6 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 2: My brother passed away in eighty three, and he passed 7 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:42,840 Speaker 2: away in eighty four. 8 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: Well, Santa Claus may pass but Christmas doesn't. And I 9 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: guess that's where Pat becomes Mss Clause, our chief l 10 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: for what happens. Tell you weren't going to let this 11 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: legacy of children's letters coming to Santa Claus, Indiana die 12 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 1: with your father, And in fact, everything you've done since then, 13 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: in a beautiful way, honors your father's legacy because had 14 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,759 Speaker 1: he not picked up the first bag in his car 15 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: from the first postmaster and decided these letters weren't going 16 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: to go unanswered, this thing wouldn't have started. But I 17 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: guess you picked it up. Is that how it worked? 18 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 2: Yes? Actually I started when I was probably twelve years old. 19 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 2: My brother and I had a little problem with dad 20 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 2: being Santa but we believed in Santa Claus. We just 21 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 2: thought he was Santa Claus and everybody. 22 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: Why not, Why wouldn't you. I mean, that's your childhood, 23 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: right right. 24 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 2: I mean I grew up with bells and suits and 25 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 2: boots and slaves and all of that. And we'd come 26 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 2: to the grade school. I want that little girl with 27 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 2: the brown eyes in the front row to sing a 28 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 2: song for me, which is he'd always do that, always 29 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 2: had to sing a song. But anyway, Yes, he passed 30 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 2: away in eighty four, and the last time he was 31 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 2: Santa Claus he was at the park became Holiday World 32 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,959 Speaker 2: in eighty three or eighty four, one of those years. 33 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 2: I'm bad with numbers. He was Santa there as it 34 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 2: was Santa claus Land and now Holiday World and has 35 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 2: grown much, very very big. So he was on stage 36 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 2: when they were issuing a first issue stamp at Santa 37 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 2: Claus behind the scenes with him. He was he was 38 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 2: ninety and he walked out on the stage. He always 39 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 2: rang his bells and said a big hope, hope, hope. 40 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 2: The whole whole theater stood on their hands, stood up 41 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 2: and clapped, I think, and just to honor him and 42 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 2: as old as he was. And that was the last 43 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 2: time he appeared at Santa and it was. It made 44 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 2: me cry. But the thing he told me as I 45 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: was taking care of him in his old age, Pat, 46 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 2: don't let the people put in the paper that Santa 47 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 2: Claus died. I was Santa Claus. But somebody will carry 48 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:27,640 Speaker 2: on and Santa Claus is forever. And they did not 49 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,359 Speaker 2: put that in the paper. And I did, you know, 50 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: that's a good thing, but. 51 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: At that time, so you pick it and you picked 52 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: it up from there. 53 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 2: Well, I've never been Santa Claus, but I have a 54 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 2: book called Santa's Daughter, and I'm in a Santa Claus 55 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 2: suit on the front of that book. But what I 56 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 2: did do was carry on the letter writing, which I 57 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 2: started helping him when I was about twelve. And of 58 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 2: course the ten years I was gone, I didn't do it. 59 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 2: Came back and immediately picked it up again. And then 60 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 2: at some point it is organized into the Santazel's Incorporated 61 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 2: because Bill it has become. We did this past season 62 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 2: we called from Thanksgiving to Christmas over twenty three thousand letters. 63 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 1: We'll see three thousand letters that have to be answered. 64 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, and some years it's thirty thousand. 65 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: And the post must have you must have literally an 66 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:27,599 Speaker 1: army of folks. I know it's I know it's a 67 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 1: little shameless plug, but you must have an army of 68 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 1: folks answering these letters in and around your town. 69 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 2: We have volunteers and they're wonderful. And we have some 70 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 2: people that come every day. We have some people who 71 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 2: come once. We have people who come twice a week. 72 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 2: We have some groups that come after work maybe. And 73 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 2: we are in a little room that only holds fourteen people, 74 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 2: but we're very organized. 75 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 1: And how does it work If my kid, when my 76 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: kid was he's five years old, from Memphis, back when 77 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: one of them was five, if they wrote a letter 78 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: to Santa Claus and put a stamp on it, does 79 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,840 Speaker 1: it just get to you guys? Somehow does the post 80 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 1: office honor that tradition? How does it work? That's how 81 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 1: it works, no kidding. 82 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 2: It works if it says the guy in the big 83 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 2: red suit, if it says north Pole, you know it's 84 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 2: that Christmas season. If we could be that way all 85 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,359 Speaker 2: year long, wouldn't it be wonderful? I mean, everybody along 86 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 2: the way will add an address, will add PO Box one, 87 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: Santa Claus, Indiana, or they will they help. It's an 88 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 2: amazing phenomenon. And when you asked about the army this, 89 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 2: I have a well, my daughter and her daughter, so 90 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 2: it's there helping. We usually start early before Thanksgiving so 91 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 2: that we don't get a big backlog. But I have 92 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 2: to tell you we have four form letters, plus the 93 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 2: letter my father wrote long ago, but it's incursive, so 94 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 2: we can't always use that. But we have letters that 95 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 2: are a dear friend, dear little friend, Merry Christmas, and 96 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 2: dear and they have certain messages in them. Every letter 97 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:26,239 Speaker 2: that comes from the child is opened, it is read, 98 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 2: then the volunteer picks the letter that they think would 99 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 2: be best for that child. They put the child's name 100 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 2: in the salutation dear friend, susy Hammah, and then at 101 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 2: the bottom of the letter they put a personal note 102 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 2: message that picks up from something in their letter, so 103 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 2: they know Santa read it. Like if they say, my 104 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 2: sister and I had a fight yesterday and I hate her. 105 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 2: Santa wants you to love your sister. Please be good 106 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:03,799 Speaker 2: to your sister. The child knows that Santa read their letter. 107 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 2: So it doesn't mean everybody sits down and writes a 108 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 2: whole letter, because that's impossible. We tried to email one year. 109 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 2: It doesn't work. I won't do that because it just 110 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 2: says the name, the age, and what they want and 111 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 2: we want a letter because that child learns to write 112 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 2: a letter. A child, they pour out their hearts in 113 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 2: those letters. 114 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: What does it you know? Listen as a father for five, 115 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: six and seven year olds will say things that absolutely 116 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: floor you that you're like, where did that come from? 117 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: And it reminds me of like when in kindergarten first 118 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: grade the teachers would send home artwork or little things 119 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: that the kids said or whatever, and you read them 120 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: and it's just like, what, how does my child even 121 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: know that? So given that kind of background as a dad, 122 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: I mean, I can only imagine what's written in some 123 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: of these letters. And I'm sure some of them are funny, 124 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: but I also got to I think some of them 125 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: are just heartbreaking. And what do you hear in these letters? 126 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: Give us a sense of what you're happening when you're reading. 127 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 2: I'll start with sad and andy with funny. We have, 128 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 2: as I said, a book. It's from nineteen thirty to 129 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 2: nineteen I can't remember. We need another book, but it's 130 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 2: a history of toys children, how they wrote, what they wanted. 131 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 2: If you see that book the letters, Yes, we cry, 132 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 2: we laugh. We do not say ever ever, and I 133 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 2: have rules. You never say Santa will send you the 134 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 2: you wanted puppy, you'll get a puppy. No, no, no no. 135 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 2: We never mentioned what they ask for because we don't 136 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 2: know and we're not going to promise something. But they 137 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 2: will say things like my grandma's dying of cancer, Santa, 138 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 2: can you send some love to my grandma? Or I'm 139 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 2: living with my dad, I want to live with my mom, 140 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 2: or you know, just things like that, family, things that 141 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 2: make you very very sad. One little boy said, you know, 142 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 2: I'm not very smart, but I wish people wouldn't think 143 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 2: that I'm dumb. One child wrote, my mother works so much. 144 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 2: I know she's doing it for us, but I wish 145 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 2: she'd be home with us more. They really do. They 146 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:33,440 Speaker 2: do tell us so many things, and we share that 147 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 2: because that's I think. That's what If people come in 148 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 2: one day to do one letter, they say they're hooked, 149 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 2: and they come back because you feel like you're really 150 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:47,319 Speaker 2: doing and some mother send us pictures of the child 151 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 2: opening the letter. The letter has my father's picture on 152 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 2: it in a sleigh in Santa Claus and even the 153 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 2: envelope has his picture on it, so they're no, it's 154 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 2: coming from Santa. And then they get a special stamp 155 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 2: on it at the post office that it has changed 156 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 2: every year. There's a contest in school for artists student 157 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 2: artists to paint as it has a name, but it's 158 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 2: a big stamp that cancels that and it's always very 159 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 2: Christmas Eve. So that's the other part. We have to 160 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 2: sit down, we have to open the letters. No, the 161 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 2: man that gets the mail opens them. He puts families together, 162 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 2: so if there's three kids in the family, you had 163 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 2: four four kids in the family, he staples those together. 164 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,559 Speaker 2: So we are sure that each child gets a different letter, 165 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 2: that we don't send the same letter to four kids. 166 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 2: We're very careful about all of that. 167 00:10:49,000 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. So I mean, in a sense, 168 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 1: you're being Santa Claus and answering Santa Claus letter and 169 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 1: the spirit of Christmas and everything, But in some of 170 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: the letters you're talking about, you're also just trying to 171 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: reassure a child that there's love in the world. 172 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, Santa loves you. Our missus Klaus sends love 173 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 2: the elves are so busy working, but they are doing 174 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 2: it because they are hoping you have a wonderful Christmas. 175 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 2: We do spend a lot of time. I ask, what 176 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 2: do you think I should say to this? Of course 177 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 2: I've done it so long that it's not hard to 178 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 2: think of something to say. But the funny ones, the 179 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 2: great ones, and you'll I hope you'll really enjoy this 180 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 2: as much as I did. This little boy said, Dear Santa, 181 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 2: please make my dad smarter. 182 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 1: What do you say to that? Sorry, your dad's a dumbo. 183 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:15,679 Speaker 1: We did the best. We could send another letter next year. 184 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: We'll try to give you what you want. 185 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 2: We got a letter from a child and I saw 186 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 2: that it had something in it. Now we get gum drops, 187 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:34,959 Speaker 2: we get chewing gum, We get candy, we get pictures, 188 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:40,199 Speaker 2: wedding pictures, we get the shopping list. We get the 189 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:49,319 Speaker 2: bill from the plumber. But this child I opened it. No, 190 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 2: it was opened. This man gets the mail every morning, 191 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 2: goes through it, puts it together. As I told you, 192 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 2: they go in stacks of local oh, by the way, 193 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 2: from all the countries in the world. 194 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: We get letters every Yeah, I was I was going 195 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: to ask you do you get them from you don't 196 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 1: just get them from the United States. 197 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 2: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Germany. 198 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: Did you get any this year from children from Ukraine? 199 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 2: Yes? 200 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 1: Did any of them say would you make them stop 201 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 1: fighting or any of that kind of thing? Yeah? 202 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 2: No, But we have always gotten letters from Russia. Last 203 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 2: year those letters were returned, were returned, They were not 204 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:44,079 Speaker 2: given to the children. They were not they were not. 205 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 1: The Russian government wouldn't allow your letters to get to 206 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 1: the Russian children. 207 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:56,839 Speaker 2: I'm supposing. Yeah, there you go again with the army 208 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 2: of people. We have a couple that live in jasper In, 209 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 2: about half an hour away, and that is their ministry 210 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 2: to answer the foreign learners. Now that postage is a 211 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:13,439 Speaker 2: dollar in something. Our postage bill is eighteen to twenty 212 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 2: thousand dollars a year, and that is covered by donations 213 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 2: if possible, and just get it done. 214 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: So twenty thousand to twenty three thousand to thirty thousand 215 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 1: letters a year. How many people are volunteering to answer 216 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: all of these letters or and it's not really an organization, 217 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: it's for your city and your community and your culture. 218 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: How many people are doing it? Well? 219 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 2: You know, when people ask that question, I guess someday 220 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 2: I need to count. I don't know. We have a room. 221 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 2: It's the back room of that original post office building. 222 00:14:56,760 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 2: It has one table for eight and another table that 223 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 2: would seat six, so it's people fourteen people can sit. 224 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 2: As I said, it's we have become an electronic world 225 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 2: like you're Alex knows and I don't, but our wonderful director. 226 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 2: At this point, Kathleen started sign up Genius, so if 227 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 2: somebody wants to volunteer to do letters, they will sign 228 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 2: up on sign up Genius. And she knows then on 229 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 2: December twelfth, we already have ten people, or she knows 230 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 2: that on December thirteenth, we only have two, so can 231 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 2: you come on December thirteenth. So's it's getting better and 232 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 2: better organized all the time, so that we have consistency. 233 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 2: And I'm called the chief help. Yes, and I'm. 234 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: Very picul about the I'm very. 235 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 2: Particular about those letters because they have to be done 236 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 2: with respect, and we can't say something stupid or silly, 237 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 2: and we did have that happened one time. Somebody can't say, well, 238 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 2: you don't believe this, do you, because somebody did and 239 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 2: the mother called it back. Really, to my knowledge, just 240 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 2: once but I go through at random letters just to 241 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 2: be sure that they're all being done with respect and properly. 242 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 2: So this army of people, what happened this year? It 243 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 2: was God bless the post office department. The post office 244 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 2: in Santa Claus is overwhelmed because people come here to 245 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 2: get that special stamp for their Christmas cards and their 246 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 2: Christmas letters, and then we come in with boxes full 247 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 2: of letters to go out by two o'clock in the afternoon. 248 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 2: They have to be there ready to go, and so 249 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 2: they're so overwhelmed. But the post office department this year 250 00:16:56,160 --> 00:17:00,120 Speaker 2: was really behind. I don't know if it was I 251 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 2: understood COVID. And then well, on the twenty ninth, we 252 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 2: usually have a date we call it cutoff date because 253 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 2: the letters will not get to the child before Christmas 254 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 2: if we mail them out, say on the twenty third, 255 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 2: and it's going to Oregon or Montana, right, so we 256 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 2: have to have a cutoff date. Well, we were getting 257 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:28,679 Speaker 2: letters on the twenty ninth that had been mailed on 258 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 2: the thirteenth. 259 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, unfortunately, I think a lot of people have experienced 260 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:35,880 Speaker 1: that with the post office since COVID. 261 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 2: So we have gotten our director said, I'm going to 262 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 2: design a postcard that's going to be cheaper for us, 263 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 2: so the child will receive a pretty Christmas e postcard. 264 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:50,680 Speaker 1: Saint. 265 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 2: Your letter arrived after Santa had gone back to the 266 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 2: North Pole. We're very sorry. 267 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 1: We hope you have. 268 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 2: A merry Christmas, but we can't any very Christmas letter 269 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 2: out to somebody that's not going to get it until 270 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:06,399 Speaker 2: after Christmas. 271 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:11,160 Speaker 1: This is a whole it's a whole shooting match organization. 272 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 1: You guys got going on there to answer all these letters. Yes, yes, 273 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: So at what point during this entire process of reassuring kids, 274 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 1: of giving kids love, of trying to make sure children 275 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: who want to write to Santa Claus get an answer 276 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:34,919 Speaker 1: from Santa Claus Indiana which is all idyllic and fairy telly, 277 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:40,120 Speaker 1: but it's real and it's so heartwarming, did you decide 278 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:44,920 Speaker 1: Santa Claus needs a Santa Claus Museum. 279 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 2: Well, it was in two thousand and six, and I 280 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 2: look back at that and it's twenty four. That's been 281 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 2: eighteen years ago. I suddenly realized as I got older, 282 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 2: many people didn't know how the town was named, or 283 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 2: why it was named, or who lived here, who were 284 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 2: our first inhabitants, who built this little town? Where did 285 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:17,879 Speaker 2: they come from? How did Santa claus Land start? My 286 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:23,360 Speaker 2: husband and I created a gated community called Christmas Lake 287 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 2: Village in order to draw people in, to help grow 288 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 2: the community, so that we'd have better schools, and so 289 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 2: that we would have more population if the county was 290 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 2: dying and it needed help. All those things, all those 291 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 2: things went into old people would say. Christmas Lake that 292 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 2: we developed has a very large lake, two small lakes, 293 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:55,360 Speaker 2: a golf course, tennis courts, playground areas, it's gated, and 294 00:19:55,400 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 2: it's beautiful, and it brought people to live there, especially 295 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 2: now we have so many people from California all over. 296 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 2: It's just amazing because we're in a little pocket of 297 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:11,160 Speaker 2: the world here. It's just a little different. 298 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 1: Now. 299 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:16,439 Speaker 2: I'm not saying it's perfect, No, not at all. There's crime, 300 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:23,919 Speaker 2: but not hugely so, and it's an idyllic kind of place. 301 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:27,120 Speaker 2: And I'm hoping to write the history of all that. 302 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 2: That's why I started the museum, to preserve that history 303 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:39,159 Speaker 2: of the town, of the village, of the park of 304 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:44,400 Speaker 2: Christmas Lake, so that some time after I'm gone, that 305 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 2: will still live on and people will have the truth 306 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 2: about things, because you know, if you don't have that 307 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:55,120 Speaker 2: document saying how the town was named, there's a legend 308 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:57,399 Speaker 2: that's beautiful, but it's not the truth. 309 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 1: And your museum straightens that out. Yes, so is because 310 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 1: it's called Santa Claus and it's got Christmas Lake, and 311 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 1: obviously the Christmas theme that is permeating the culture. Is 312 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: it Christmas all the time there? 313 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 2: Well, everything is Christmas y and that's okay. We're still growing. 314 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 2: We're just a small town to twenty five hundred. Maybe 315 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 2: that's because of the village and we have now two 316 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:46,879 Speaker 2: high schools in the county and several elementary schools that 317 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 2: are very good. By the way, my goal is to 318 00:21:52,760 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 2: retain the small town wonderful atmosphere or culture that exists there. 319 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 2: Go to the high school basketball games and cheer on 320 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 2: the team no matter how old or or how long 321 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 2: it was since you've graduated, have turtle soup parties and 322 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 2: have it. You know, it's it's that small town stuff 323 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:20,919 Speaker 2: that I think really binds people together and creates a 324 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:25,160 Speaker 2: special kind of culture. So like for my museum, it's 325 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 2: very quaint. It has the original post office, it has 326 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 2: the original church which was eighteen eighty with all the original. 327 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 2: Everything in it is original, absolutely beautiful, with the kerosene 328 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:40,119 Speaker 2: lamps and the organ that you had to pump with 329 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 2: your feet to make it go. And we had a 330 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:46,639 Speaker 2: program this year and I sang Silent Night in German 331 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 2: and two people came up to me and said, now 332 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 2: I really feel the spirit of Christmas in that little 333 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 2: church in the dark with those lamps. Schilenacht in German 334 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 2: is pretty special. That special feeling I think, not neon, 335 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 2: not glittery stuff. Well, we have Christmas lights all over 336 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 2: all the time. But you understand what I'm saying. 337 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I do. I do, And I can't think of 338 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 1: any better person with any greater perspective to be answering 339 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 1: the cause of children for all of the world to 340 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 1: Santa Claus. 341 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 2: I dedicate my life to it in November December as 342 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 2: my daughter and her daughters. She has three daughters and 343 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 2: they've grown up helping. We don't allow the letters to 344 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 2: leave the yron the post office because you have to 345 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:45,400 Speaker 2: be very careful because of the culture today that somebody 346 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 2: doesn't get a hold of an address or a name. 347 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 2: So we do everything there. But I'm very proud of 348 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:55,199 Speaker 2: the fact that they have been very involved. And my 349 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 2: other daughter is in an Annapolis, which is of course 350 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 2: the state capital, and she and her daughter came down 351 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:06,160 Speaker 2: and spent a weekend and helped. I forgot to say 352 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:09,320 Speaker 2: that teachers love to use this as a method of 353 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 2: teaching children to write letters. We get big boxes of 354 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 2: one hundred letters from a grade school. 355 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:35,680 Speaker 1: Unbelievable. We'll be right back the show as an army 356 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: of normal folks. And we have covered a lot of 357 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:42,199 Speaker 1: heavy topics here and then lighter topics. And this is 358 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 1: such a feel good, warm topic story. One of the 359 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:53,000 Speaker 1: things I hear a lot that really frustrates me. And 360 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 1: it doesn't frustrate me if the people had ask it. 361 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: It frustrates me sometimes because I'm not sure. I always 362 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 1: have a great answer. And the question is I love 363 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 1: that story, I love her story, his story. I love 364 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 1: the podcast about this person or that person what they're doing, 365 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:13,639 Speaker 1: and it's so inspiring and it makes me want to 366 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 1: get involved, but I just don't know how. And I 367 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 1: get people's inhibitions. I get people's reticence, I get people's 368 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 1: reluctance and fears, and unfortunately in our society, I get 369 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 1: people's desire, not desire, but inclination to withdraw from a 370 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,359 Speaker 1: fear of being judged or a fear of being seen 371 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 1: in one way or another. And in my estimation, those reticence, 372 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:54,199 Speaker 1: that reluctance, that fear prohibits personal growth and most importantly, 373 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:59,120 Speaker 1: prohibits this army of normal folks seeing areas of need 374 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 1: and filling it. Pat you're ninety two and a half. 375 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 2: You come from I can celebrate my ninetieth birthday because 376 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:10,160 Speaker 2: it was during COVID. 377 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 1: You're ninety two and a half. You're the daughter of 378 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:19,879 Speaker 1: a father who served in World War One, who built 379 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 1: boats that served our country in World War Two, who 380 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:29,879 Speaker 1: stopped by the postmaster not long after the Great Depression 381 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:34,160 Speaker 1: because he had a heart to answer children's letters, who 382 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: simply wanted love or boots or food, whose legacy is 383 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:44,479 Speaker 1: now literally almost one hundred years later. What do you 384 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 1: say to someone with all of your experience and all 385 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:52,640 Speaker 1: of the legacy from your father to you, to now 386 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:55,840 Speaker 1: your daughters, and to what you're doing to put a 387 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: smile on a child's face from as far away as 388 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:01,919 Speaker 1: Russia and China and the Ukraine by simply taking the 389 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:05,120 Speaker 1: time to answer a letter. They wrote to Santa Claus. 390 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,440 Speaker 1: What do you say to somebody who says, I really 391 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:10,640 Speaker 1: want to do something good, but I don't know how. 392 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 2: I really want to do something good. I say, take 393 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:20,840 Speaker 2: a risk, do it. 394 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 1: Just step out there. 395 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 2: Huh, yes, get out there, but research it. Be sure 396 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 2: it's real. You know what I mean about that, that 397 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:37,160 Speaker 2: the money is being used properly or whatever you're going 398 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:41,639 Speaker 2: to try to do. Who are the people involved, how's 399 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 2: it being run? All those sorts of things. But that's 400 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 2: if you don't do that, that's good, things aren't going 401 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:55,760 Speaker 2: to keep happening. I think we have to be willing, 402 00:27:56,080 --> 00:28:00,960 Speaker 2: as you said, to look foolish. Why in the world 403 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 2: are you sitting here doing this to make mistakes, but 404 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 2: to give and keep giving and keep giving and keep 405 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 2: giving and the happiness and that's see, that's when my 406 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 2: dad saw. My dad saw the joy in those children's 407 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 2: eyes when he was Santa on that ship in nineteen fourteen. Uh, 408 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 2: and that cost that ripple of stuff that happened and 409 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:31,360 Speaker 2: made him Santa Jim all his life. People say, oh, 410 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 2: he was the real Santa. He was Santa he knew 411 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 2: several languages. I mean, I could you know I loved 412 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 2: him so much, and I have him in the in 413 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:47,480 Speaker 2: the museum. I saved everything about him, his suit, his boots, 414 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 2: his big belt, his cane, his mittens, the book he 415 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 2: read from the nine before Christmas that he had paper 416 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:59,160 Speaker 2: clips in where to bread to the children. And he's 417 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:03,160 Speaker 2: sitting there behind a mural that was in Santa claus Land. 418 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:05,840 Speaker 2: So you know, they come up and they say, that's 419 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 2: the way I saw it when I was a little kid. 420 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:12,479 Speaker 2: So there's just so many ways to make people happy. 421 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:16,960 Speaker 2: And it's it, I know, And you know that you're 422 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 2: rewarded one hundred times over. 423 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: I have said that every single time, and I love that. 424 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 1: I didn't have to be the one who said it, 425 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: but you said it. And honestly, Pat, what your response 426 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 1: was is not at all surprising. Take a risk from 427 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 1: a sixteen year old who wanted more education and got 428 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 1: out a bus and showed up somewhere because she wanted 429 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 1: to expand her education to come full circle to the 430 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 1: unbelievable life you've led, I guess take a risk is 431 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 1: just second nature to Pat Cook. 432 00:29:55,560 --> 00:29:59,320 Speaker 2: Yes, and I keep saying it's wonderful to grow old 433 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 2: because now it doesn't matter what somebody thinks. 434 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 1: Okay, I got one more question. I'm going to throw 435 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 1: you a softball and we're going to end with it. 436 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 1: We live in ever increasingly difficult times. We have geopolitical issues, 437 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:17,880 Speaker 1: we have the and we're not going to get into 438 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:20,080 Speaker 1: the politics of it. But the fact is we have 439 00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: three things going on in the Middle East with Israel 440 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 1: and Palestine and Syria, and with the Huthis. We've got 441 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 1: the Russia Ukraine thing. We've got really domestic discord politically 442 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:39,400 Speaker 1: where none of the front runners have more than forty 443 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 1: five percent of approval rating, which says a lot about 444 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 1: the division. We now have media outlets who are heavily 445 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 1: incented by power and money to continue to craft narratives 446 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:56,000 Speaker 1: that divide us that are often inaccurate. I think we 447 00:30:56,080 --> 00:31:01,000 Speaker 1: are surrounded by a lot of people who have a 448 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:06,160 Speaker 1: lot of power and gain and control power by continuing 449 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:09,720 Speaker 1: to scare us by the boogeyman from one side of 450 00:31:09,720 --> 00:31:14,560 Speaker 1: the aisle of the other. And we have arguments and 451 00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 1: concerns over global warming and what's causing it. And I mean, 452 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 1: I really can go on and on about all of 453 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 1: the things that face we humans today and could argue 454 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:32,880 Speaker 1: that some of them teeter on being existential. But I 455 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:38,080 Speaker 1: can also tell you at Christmas time, when I'm with 456 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: my children and my wife, it doesn't seem to matter 457 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:45,640 Speaker 1: quite as much. But there are skeptics out there who 458 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:50,600 Speaker 1: will say the spirit of Christmas is fast us. What 459 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:51,600 Speaker 1: do you say to that path. 460 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:59,400 Speaker 2: The Spirit of Christmas is forever, and it will live 461 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:05,000 Speaker 2: forever because good overcomes evil. 462 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:09,920 Speaker 1: I love that, pat and I'll tell you this. I 463 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:13,600 Speaker 1: love the fact that they're twenty three thirty thousand children 464 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 1: every single year that write a letter to Santa Claus, 465 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 1: often not about getting a game Boy, but more about 466 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:25,240 Speaker 1: wanting something for their siblings or their parents who there's 467 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:28,600 Speaker 1: an army of volunteers in a little place called Santa Claus, 468 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 1: Indiana that put a smile on the face of a 469 00:32:33,280 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 1: child at Christmas time and reassure them that they're being 470 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:42,760 Speaker 1: heard and loved. And that is the spirit of Christmas? 471 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:43,200 Speaker 1: Is it not? 472 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 2: It is? It is? I have a plaque on it 473 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 2: says keep the Spirit of Christmas all here long. Wouldn't that? See? 474 00:32:56,120 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 2: All this would be over if we had the spirit 475 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 2: of Christmas all the time, because we're happy and we're cheerful, 476 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:09,239 Speaker 2: and we're giving and we're caring, and we're outside of 477 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:15,400 Speaker 2: ourselves and especially with children. If we could do that, 478 00:33:15,680 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 2: it would be a wonderful world. 479 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:23,400 Speaker 1: Said from the Chief Elf from Santa Claus, Indiana to 480 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:27,080 Speaker 1: her and her army of elves, put smiles on children's 481 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:30,800 Speaker 1: faces across the globe at Christmas time. That Cook, you 482 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:34,760 Speaker 1: are phenomenal and I just really can't wait to see 483 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:37,360 Speaker 1: what you're doing in fifteen or twenty years from now, 484 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:39,040 Speaker 1: because you have so much more work to do. 485 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:42,120 Speaker 2: I do, That's what I say. I have to keep. 486 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:44,560 Speaker 2: I have so much to do, very. 487 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:49,240 Speaker 1: Very big, Pat. It has been an absolutely pleasure. Thank 488 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:54,920 Speaker 1: you for joining me and in the middle of a year, 489 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:57,120 Speaker 1: Merry Christmas Path. 490 00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:01,920 Speaker 2: Merry Christmas to you, keep the spirit and believe, believe, 491 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:03,480 Speaker 2: keep believing. 492 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 1: Thank you, Pat, and thank you for joining us this week. 493 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:13,640 Speaker 1: If Pat Cook or another guest has inspired you in general, 494 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:17,160 Speaker 1: or better yet, to take action, please let me know. 495 00:34:17,520 --> 00:34:19,400 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear about it. You can write me 496 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:24,160 Speaker 1: anytime at Bill at Normalfolks dot us and I will respond. 497 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:28,240 Speaker 1: And if you enjoyed this episode, please share with friends 498 00:34:28,239 --> 00:34:32,839 Speaker 1: and on social subscribe to our podcast, rate and review it, 499 00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:36,799 Speaker 1: become a premium member at Normalfolks dot us. All these 500 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:40,560 Speaker 1: things that will help us grow an army of normal folks. 501 00:34:40,960 --> 00:34:43,320 Speaker 1: I'm Bill Courtney. I'll see you next week.