Went to the Minnesota State Fair on Saturday, 29 Aug. While wandering through the Horticulture Building, between fried foods on a stick, I happened to be behind a man holding a little girl. She was looking over his shoulder, facing behind him just catching the scenes.

Suddenly, she fixated on something. She had a moment of recognition as her eyes got big. She pointed and shouted, "Santa!"

A jolly man with the required white hair and beard, over-sized tummy, and red suspenders (equipped with a few picture buttons of him in Santa garb) appeared to my right.

"Hello, my dear!" he exclaimed. "It's good to see you again. Here, I have something for you." He offered her one of those little individually wrapped candy canes (a little out of season, unless you're Santa, I suppose).

She checked with dad, gleefully took the candy and thanked him, full of smiles. Everyone nearby who saw it was full of smiles. He gave a friendly nod to everyone who was looking, and stepped back into the crowd.

A few moments later a shift in the crowd sent Santa his way and us ours. As we parted, I noticed he was carrying a sack filled with the little candy canes. I suppose it's the price one pays for having the look. I'm glad the fella was friendly about it, and almost believe in Santa again.