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Santa's Special Helpers

FISHER

Posted By: Mistina Christner (email)
Date: 7/12/2018 at 12:16:18

Source: Iowa City Press Citizen date unknown

Santa's Special Helpers
For seven years, Robert and Gladys Fisher have assumed their alter egos during the winter holidays: Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. The 76-year-old Christmas characters visit nursing homes, private parties and keep their planners by their sides to make sure that they don't double-book. Hey, the Clauses are in high demand this time of year.

Story by Heather Lilienthal
Photos by Joseph Murphy

Santa arrived early at the home of Gladys and Robert Fisher this year. Decked out in her home-made Santa spouse outfit, Gladys greeted her visitors with a smile. Santa (AKA Robert) rose to his black, booted feet and adjusted his belt.
"HO! HO! HO!" he belted out in a gentle, gravelly voice. Then he pumped his eyebrows up and down and opened his eyes wide. "How was that?"
Gladys and Robert have decked many halls in their red and white glory during the past seven years. They've visited retirement homes, rode on golf carts and fire trucks in community parades and more. Sometimes, their true identity isn't clear.
"One time at the Pleasantview retirement home a lady says to me, "I know you, but I don't know Santa,"" says Gladys. She cups her hands around her mouth and whispers loudly, "I said, "Well, I know (who he is), I slept with him last night!""
She giggles and rocks back in her chair. Robert shakes his head and rolls his eyes.
They even get a kick out of crashing parties: Santa Claus-style.
"Oh we've come home from one of our events and seen a neighbor having a party," says Gladys slowly. She drops her chin and peers mischievously over her glasses. "We go in, surprise them all and then leave. It's quite a lot of fun."
Robert chuckles from his chair. (Did I just see his belly shake when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly?)
"Yah, we, ah, like to drop in on people," he adds, his mouth buried beneath his snow-capped chin. "One time, we even came up upon some friends who lived at the end of a long drive. I shut off the car's headlights so they wouldn't see us a-comin'."
"The kids get such a bang out of it," says Gladys.
They already have six or seven appearances scheduled this year. (These 76-year-old people are constantly on the go with community volunteering, transporting Amish neighbors to nearby cities and involvement with the Johnson County Farm Bureau. They each have a planner to keep track of their hectic days. (Gladys even has two.)
"I keep a-sayin' that we're getting too old," threatens Robert. But his grin can't be hid under his beard. "But, yah, it's one of those yearly jobs."
Let's hope they don't retire anytime soon.


 

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