Claus and effect

By David Haerle/

The Daily World —

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.”

Ebenezer Scrooge

From “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens

***

Santa was there. And Mrs. Claus was by his side.

The reindeer were not — despite the cold, gray, dreary reindeer-worthy weather.

But there were Elk — a whole herd of ‘em — helping to spread some much-needed holiday cheer to a whole slew of vehicle-ensconced Grays Harbor families.

Last Saturday, the Hoquiam Elks hosted the Clauses and hundreds of Harbor families for a drive-through visit with the jolly old elf and his jolly old spouse.

“We were expecting about 100 kids and we got more than 300,” said Helen Olsen, the lodge’s exalted ruler, through a mask and donning an elf outfit. “We gave away toys, gifts, teddy bears, candy canes and other treats — even hot dogs until they ran out.”

There were so many families wanting to see Santa that cars were lined up around the corner and up K Street for almost 10 blocks — somewhat gridlocking a couple of intersections in downtown Hoquiam for more than 90 minutes.

After the lineup of vehicles had dissipated a little after 2 p.m., Mrs. Claus reacted: “I did have a very good time,” she said. “It’s certainly different this year!”

”The children were so responsive today,” chimed in Santa. “They couldn’t wait to get their windows down. They were waving — and there were lots of smiles!”

Thomas Roff, the lodge’s official photographer, said all of the photos he took of the event are available online and free to download. Roff has been and Elk for 13 years, and he was the photographer for the lodge in the City of Orange, Calif., for many years prior to moving to the Harbor a couple of years back. He is now working with the local Elks lodges, and he enjoyed the afternoon despite the steady rain and challenging circumstances.

“This was still a lot of fun,” he said. “It was a little different taking photos with the kids in the cars, but I did what I could. All our photos go on the website SmugMug. People can download them free of charge,” he added.

Through the gloom of the day — and most the year for that matter — Santa had a final message to all the children struggling to keep the Christmas spirit through all the pitfalls and pain 2020 has bestowed.

“It’s been a rough year,” Santa said, thoughtfully stroking his flowing beard. “Tell the kids to keep up the good spirit they’ve shown all year, and we’re soon going to have an end to these things. And keep believing in the spirit of Santa — we will all be back together next year!”

***

“And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!’’ — Charles Dickens