Dear Editor and readers of The Times,

I am taking the time to send a follow-up letter to the Editor of the Waitsburg Times after a fabulous weekend spent in the Waitsburg area visiting with children of all ages.

Not only did I visit with children in Waitsburg at Ten Ton Coffee but had the opportunity to visit the Walla Walla Senior Center and the Kirkman House Museum.

The Senior Center hosted a bazaar to welcome the holiday season. I was invited to visit the vendors, staff, bazaar patrons, and their children. I had a surprise visit from the kitchen staff, who wanted to ensure I received their lists before I left. The Senior Center offers an Adult Day Center daily for adults of all ages.

I was also asked to drop by the Kirkman House Museum and share with staff and children of visitors there as well. The Kirkman House is steeped in local history, including that of Bruce Wayne and Batman. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit there.

I must share that where ever I visit, I always spend time at a local house of worship.

When arriving at Ten Ton Coffee on Sunday, I was surprised by a beautifully decorated and warm Christmas setting by the window looking out onto Main Street. There was a steady line of children from Waitsburg and the surrounding community. There were candy canes for all, and the Ten Ton elves kept Santa supplied with hot cocoa.

The children were well-behaved, and there was a steady hum of oohs, aahs, and laughter ringing from the rafters. Children shared their wishes with me, asking for dolls, cars, trucks, video games, flying toys, and toy cars and trains to ride. There were also requests for dollhouses, dinosaurs, a ride in a toy tank, airplanes, and sleds.

At one point, I received a first-ever request, from a young man of about eight in a three-piece blue suit and tie for a “top hat.” Wow, I never saw that one coming, so I whipped out my Santa Phone and called the North Pole to give my elves a headstart on the hat.

As the day continued, we could see out of the window as the snow started to fall, with the Waitsburg Town Clock and the old City Hall behind it. As the clock rolled around toward the five o’clock mark, the Hometown Christmas parade was organizing on Main Street. At five o’clock, the siren on top of the library sounded to signal the start of the parade. There were horses, marchers, firetrucks, and the Blue Mountain Shrine club calliope leading the way. It was a sight to see lighted bicyclists and a beautiful, larger-than-life “Bicycle” float.

As for me, I was riding in the open back of a vintage Ford Bronco, fully decorated and decked out with presents in the truck’s bed. We came down Main Street to the cheers, applause, whistles, and shouts of Merry Christmas. There was Christmas music coming from the calliope and singing from the crowds on the streets, along with a fire pit, hot chocolate, and hot apple cider for the onlookers at one of the local churches.

Merry Christmas, Waitsburg, and thank you for all the warmth, for one and all, as the snow continues to fall.

“The Season” has been kicked off in fine fashion!

Santa Claus

North Pole