I’ve been reading a lot more than I’ve been writing. Most recently, a compilation of short stories by Jon Ronson has completely blown my overly inquisitive mind to smithereens. Each chapter explores ordinary and often freakish subcultures found just below the surface of our everyday society. Exactly the type of book that was written for people exactly like me.
The most recent chapter places the author in North Pole a small town in Alaska with a population of around 1,500 residents. It’s Christmas year-round in North Pole, sporting twinkling holiday decorations, carolers and the official Santa Claus House all...year...long.
The weirdest and most intriguing thing about this city, to me, wasn’t actually the idea of a collection of individuals living and breathing the Christmas story year-round (which is, honestly, terrifying), but rather the fact that most letters addressed to “Santa, North Pole” (or any variation similar to it) physically ends up in this community. Every year, thousands of these arrive, and are sorted and answered by school children, and other spirited community members. They live the Christmas spirit every day, yet accept its façade when they themselves answer letters to children all over the world.
So the idea of Santa, and the entire Christmas racket was on my mind as I ran errands Saturday. I slowed for the red light, allowing the pedestrians to cross. A man that resembled Santa crossed – that is, without my glasses, he really could have been any bearded white man, but still. He slouched and carried a grocery bag to his side which appeared to hold a bottle of liquor. He also carried an air of deep sadness, or maybe it was exhaustion. I wondered if he was any different than the Santa in North Pole and if the alternative was any less depressing.
The image of that California Santa stayed with me the rest of the weekend. In fact, it took me back to many pedestrian sightings that have stuck in my active mind… the lady in red, people sprinting for the bus (almost always loaded down with grocery bags), and another recent sighting here in LA. I wonder what the right formula is for a pedestrian to capture my curiosity... and make a real imprint in my memory for days and months later.
Perhaps something worth getting to the bottom of....
