I guess I’ve done it enough now that it’s become a tradition. This week I volunteered with the Salvation Army to tend a kettle in the mall.

I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get a bell, so I downloaded an app for my smart phone. What says Christmas like a bearded fat man, wearing a Santa hat, shaking a phone next to a kettle?

And it was an interesting evening. I was surprised at those who wouldn’t meet my eyes, although maybe that had to do with the phone and Santa hat.

I noticed that the majority of those who gave were over forty or under fourteen. Interesting. The gifts ranged from a few cents to a twenty-dollar bill and for a number of people it wasn’t the first time this year they had put money in a kettle.

And there were a couple of highlights: The little girl who called me Santa, (her mother wasn’t sure if she should be embarrassed or not), and then there was an obviously Muslim couple, (she wore a hajib), who wished me a Happy Christmas and a number of people thanked me for the work that the Salvation Army does in the community.

Overall a good evening and a tradition that I hope to keep in Christmas. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.