We are all frauds some of the time

So, this year, I got to shoot Santa. I mean I took pictures of Santa. Fortunately, where I was working, I don't have to wear any of those silly green outfits. Sounds like torture, doesn't it?

What if I told you that I had an idiotic grin on my face? Yeah, even my grinch-like self, could smile on this holiday. Not that I'm any happier about the holiday, per se. It's more that I got to see all these little kids, all dressed to the nines, and have them smile for me. How can you not smile when they shout an excited, "Santa!" out loud as they catch a glimpse of jolly old St. Nick?

Ok, I admit it. I am a fraud. I like kids. What can I say? It's hard to ignore them when they smile so easily and seem to have no concerns in the world because they're focused on this day, not tomorrow and when everything is new and exciting to them.

Of course, not all of them had smiles on their faces. I had to take dozens of pictures every night where the child seeing Santa cried their lungs out. The funniest pictures were of squirming, screaming, crying kids. Remember, laughter is a reaction to the absurd. What can be more absurd than parents lining up for hours to have a picture taken of their crying child on some fat old man's lap?

Too bad being asian means I can't portray Santa. Then again, as I remind myself that I'd be that fat old man, maybe not.

Speak and remove all doubt

Again, I find myself reading what I wrote and realizing that I wrote what has happened to me instead of what I am thinking. There has to be a way to balance the two themes. Perhaps there isn't. *shrug*

I often get accused of being stubborn. Obstinate. More so than a mule. I tend to think that I'm consistent and persistent. Allow me to put it this way.

As children, we are taught to tell the truth and do the right thing. Whatever the right thing happens to be in the culture they're brought up in. I suspect that I am no different in that form of upbringing.

I want to be the type of person who, when he says something, is right. And when I believe I am right, well, barring evidence to the contrary, I am right. So, when I say something, I usually tend to be right. Very often, passionately so when someone disagrees with me. I hope that makes sense.

Of course, I'm not so stubborn as to ignore reality. If the thing is blue, and I see that it's blue when I said it was red, I will admit I'm wrong. Often, if I don't know anything about a topic, I'll be silent. (I'm also a fan of honest Abe: Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt)

I guess that gives the impression that I am stubborn. It shouldn't, since I tend to back up what I say with fact. Hmmmmmmm. Maybe this is why I am so terrible with small talk. I can't think of anything factual to say. I think there may be some merit in that.