December 24, 2009:

Cityfull of Santas. Parties and promenades.

"Hey that beard's not real," said to an especially fetching Santa in supershort red with white trim. "I can tell."

Laughing she says, "What was your first clue?"

"The fishnets were my first two. Then there were others."

Laughing she says, "Buy each other drinks?"

Laughing, I say, "Treat each other like candy canes?"

Throws back her head in her red Santa parka trimmed in white. Looks me in the eye and smiles.