Santa enjoyed sharing the hope, joy and love of the season

Santa was in good spirits as he returned home on Christmas Day.

He had enjoyed his first season as a professional Santa in Portland, Oregon.   He had spent seven weeks working in the Washington Square Mall, listening to thousands of children tell him what they wanted for Christmas, and sharing the hope, joy and love of the holiday season. 

That was the best part of the job — making the children happy, said Santa during a recent interview

Seeing the faces of children light up was exactly what charmed the local man into a seasonal career as the jolly bringer of gifts.

Greg Smith was given a seven-week leave of absence from his work as facilities manager at Mayo Clinic Health System in Springfield to be a mall Santa.  “I’m the first Mayo Clinic employee who got a leave of absence to be a mall Santa,” Smith said, happily, during a recent interview.    “I tell people I have the best job in the world, and truly mean it,” he said. “Why, I even show up for work with bells on . . . literally!”