As we walk through the bitter cold of a winter evening with snow slowly falling from the night sky up above, we wander until we finally stop at our destination. A building within the gates of the Toledo Zoo which holds the scenery for a picture perfect moment. With the sounds of people saying “Merry Christmas” and the smell of candy canes in the air we all gather around in our hats, gloves, and bulky winter coats to get our yearly picture. The sound of laughter fills the air as all the worries of the world float away. 

We walk up to the room filled with green and red, where the giant presents fill the empty space, and Christmas elves work the camera.  We gather around the big red chair all falling into place. He sits there, dressed in all red, and his white hair and beard in much need of a haircut fall down by his chest. He looks out from behind his thin round gold glasses. Although confronted with a stranger, this feels like such a familiar place. He is Santa. People stare as a group of nine teenagers and their grandparents all gather around Santa to make Christmas memories. As everyone smiled on the count of three, you can see the Christmas spirit fill the room. With a cheerful smile he welcomes us, takes a picture with us, and even sends us on our way with the gift of candy canes. Then with no reason to be scared, the children run up to this strange man, telling him what they want for Christmas and whether or not they have been good this year. 

Christmas cheer fills the building as we all eat our minty candy canes and drink our steaming hot chocolate.  The smiles and joy of the night were all captured in one single photo. We continue on, with so much more fun to be had. We walk through the cold night seeing the blue, pink, white, green, and purple lights with so many more colors to be seen. The lights dance with joy as they flicker in the night sky, while the music plays out loud as contagious dancing fills the concrete.Memories to last a lifetime all captured in a single Christmas photo. Although physically a light photograph, the weight I carry is heavy as I remember this fun filled evening where we all gathered around, despite our busy schedules, to keep this Christmas tradition going.