I met Santa Claus at the Walgreens on Canal Street yesterday.

It was a pretty normal, and fairly stressful, day otherwise.  So I was due for something awesome to happen.

I’d navigated through all the construction to get over there on my lunch break so I could pick up a prescription right quick and avoid having to do it at night. When I arrived at the back of the store where the drug counter is, there he was. I had to sit and wait for a while, because my stuff wasn’t ready yet, so I sat next to Santa.

He was very nice, a jovial sort. Helpful to others and taking care of his own Walgreens pharmacy business.

J and I have been intermittently seeing him around since we moved here, usually in the Quarter during daytime roamings. White hair and a whiter beard, always wearing red. In our passing observations, we would note that, of course, he was wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt because it’s summer time. Santa is off season! On vacation!

I had no idea he was actually and truly Santa until I ran into him at Walgreens yesterday.

Standing at the counter while the pharmacist looked for my refill (only to tell me Not Yet, Have a Seat), he was behind me on his cell phone, talking to someone official. When I heard him say, “Yes, hello, my name is Santa Claus, and I have some questions about…” my jaw hit the Formica counter and I had to pick it up and put it back on my face before sitting down.

J and I had just been guessing. But we were right and didn’t know it! Doing some internet research, it looks like he does some Great Things. I have a feeling New Orleans is lucky to have him.

You really just never know who you will run into.