santa

Grandma Diana and three-year-old Jordan are trying to get a picture with Santa. However, Santa is busy with his other job of cleaning porta-potties. While waiting, they enjoy the lights and attractions in Uptown Marshall. Finally, Santa arrives and tries to convince Jordan to sit on his lap for a picture, but she is not easily persuaded. Santa offers her candy and asks what she wants for Christmas. They eventually manage to take a picture with Grandma sitting on Santa's lap. It is revealed that Santa also runs a business delivering porta-potties. Despite not getting the perfect picture, everyone is satisfied with the outcome. It's time for About Marshall with your host, Rich Lyons. If you have kids, or especially grandkids, this story is all too familiar. Here's Grandma. Diana Bonds, I'm from Carthage. That's my granddaughter, Jordan, and she's from Nacogdoches. Here's Jordan. Hi, Poppy. Our mission, should we decide to accept it, is to get three-year-old Jordan to sit on Santa's lap alone for a picture with everyone smiling and looking at the camera. Can we get Jordan into Santa's lap? Well, not right away. Seems like Santa was tending to his daytime job. He said to plug the porta-potties. They're clean, nice. Don't know what he meant by that, but he was nowhere to be found. He was in the area just a minute ago. But he's not in his chair, is he? But we got to see a star, and ice skaters, and toy soldiers, and a huge flower. Didn't we? What do you think about the lights? Are they pretty? There's horsies there. Well, yes, there were horsies there. Whatever your fancy is, it's a wonderland of lights, from 10 million lights to horsies to clean and nice porta-potties. How's that, Santa? There's everything in Uptown Marshall. While waiting for Santa, I asked Diana Vaughn how she liked Marshall's offering this year. We've been in this area for 17 years, so it seemed like it'd been here as long as I remembered. We haven't been for years. And I thought, you know what? She just needed to see this. Beautiful. It's nice and beautiful. I mean, 50 degrees, you can't beat this for weather. I don't know how the ice skaters are doing, but the rest of us are doing great. The ice skaters seem to be doing just fine. Now back to Grandma and Jordan waiting for Santa, where the conversation has drifted a little bit. Snow monsters are mean. Aren't you glad there's no snow monsters in Marshall? Yeah! There is Santa Claus. Who's that over there? Who's that? Santa. Do you think he's coming over here? Yeah. If he's coming over here, I'll bet we'll get to say hi. Do you think so? I'll get him to go in there. You think so? You're gonna get him to go in there? We gotta wait till he comes over here, though. He's gotta be all ready. He's gonna be all ready? He's gonna be all ready, yeah. Won't you put me down? Would I put you down? You're gonna stay right here. You go back to his house and wait for him and see if he's coming over here. Santa is on his way, and as the anticipation builds, Diana is already planning a return trip to Marshall. I need to bring my husband down and we'll tour the neighborhoods. I thought she'd do great walking around, and she has. She has just loved walking around. She's really enjoyed, it's beautiful. It's just beautiful. Are those jingle bells I hear? No, it's the cash register ringing up another return visit to the Wonderland of Lights and a nice ka-ching for the Marshall economy. Hey, you've met Grandma Jordan. Now here's Santa. Hello, Jordan. Let's listen in and see what tricks Santa has in his bag of goodies. Remember, we're trying to get three-year-old Jordan to sit in Santa's lap alone for a picture with everyone smiling and looking at the camera. How old are you? Will you come sit in my lap? Say, sure. Come on, will you come sit? Come on, let's go see. Can we get a picture with you? Will you come sit with me, Jordan? Can we get a picture with Santa? Oh, my goodness. Where did you get those pretty pants? Woo! Where did you get those pretty pants? Flattery, but Jordan isn't buying it. You're three years old. For my birthday. When was that? When was your birthday? November. In November. You just bagged our three-year-olds. Should we take a picture? Can we smile at them and they'll take our picture? Would you sit here with Santa Claus? Ah, bribery, candy. Let's see if it works. Oh, candy cane. Would you like a candy cane? You can have a candy cane. You wanna sit in my lap for a candy cane? Can you say thank you? Would you come sit in my lap? You wanna sit with me? Okay. Sit here. Okay. What? Okay. All right, let's go around over here and sit. Can you smile at them? They're gonna take our picture. Okay. Jordan, say Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Ha ha ha ha. Thank you. You're sure a big girl. Only Santa Claus could get away with calling grandma a big girl. Let's listen in as a pro digs in for vital information. What does Santa need to bring you? What kind of baby doll do you like? I like toys. You like a toy? What kind of toy? A car. A car. What color? Pink. Pink car. One you push or one you sit on? I want to drive. You want to drive? Of course. Ha ha ha ha. I forget pushing it and sitting on it. Jordan may be only three, but she sure has made Santa's work hard this year. A car she can drive. Man, I was 16. Now the secret second try for the picture. Can we catch Jordan off guard? But I'm getting bigger. I know. Would you like to sit on Santa's knee? You wouldn't? Well, I'd like to have a little girl sit in my lap tonight. I want to sit in your lap tonight. You sit in my lap tonight? I know you sit in my lap any night. What are you talking about? You want to give Santa a hug before we go? Can I have a big old hug? You want to give Santa a hug? You can give Santa a hug. That's okay. Oh. That's a big bear hug. Santa's a good hugger, huh? Yeah. Yeah. It's good to see you up here tonight. Not bad. They got the picture, Grandma was sitting on Santa's knee. Santa seemed cool with that. Jordan sat on Grandma's knee and Jordan was cool with that. Santa did find out what to bring and got a hug. Oh, and I figured out the other deal. When Santa isn't coasting pictures at a cute little gift, he operates a business of delivering nice, clean porta potties wherever they're needed, like downtown Marshall in December. I give Santa two thumbs up. While he may not have gotten the perfect picture, he got a good one and he took care of that other business as well. For KCUL News with About Marshall, I'm Rich Lyons. You've been listening to About Marshall with your host, Rich Lyons.