As a child, after the cookies and carrots were left by the hearth and “the children were nestled all snug in their beds,” I would lay awake. It wasn’t visions of sugarplums, however, that danced in my head. I was carefully constructing the classic childhood Christmas caper. A covert operation that, if not perfectly planned and expertly executed was likely to land me on Santa’s “Naughty List,” permanently.

My mission: to observe from the shadows of the landing atop the stairs as Santa Claus stuffed stockings, unpacked presents, and tasted the treats that we had spent the afternoon baking. The Sandman always got to me first, and I never got to hear “the prancing and pawing of each little hoof” on the rooftop.

Sure, I had seen him at the mall and on the corner with his bells. I had even spent a few moments sitting on his knee, examining his beard for signs of fraud while reciting my Christmas list. I wasn’t convinced, but I wasn’t taking any chances.

Now, years later on a sunny October day, it was time. Time to meet jolly old St. Nicholas face-to-face and time to ask him all the burning questions of my youth. It was time for the truth.

I didn’t need to ask about the beard. It really was “as white as the snow.” Santa did confess, however, that he actually spends a lot of time primping and that he is no stranger to modern appliances, including a curling iron.

My first question: What question do you get asked most often? According to Santa, most people ask where Rudolph and the other reindeer are at the moment. Sometimes his answer is simply that they are resting up for the holiday and “sleeping in.” Other times, however, depending on their recent cookie consumption (apparently, like the man in red, reindeer have quite a sweet tooth) they’re off to “summer training camp.” “Summer,” of course, being any season but the Christmas season.

While we were on the subject of cookies, Santa shared that although he “has never met a cookie [he] didn’t like,” his favorite is chocolate chip with walnuts, with a big glass of milk. As for the reindeer, when they are not sneaking Mrs. Claus’ cookies out of the North Pole kitchen, they enjoy carrots and celery.

After the “cookie” conversation, I naturally needed to know whether Santa had ever gotten stuck in a chimney. No, he said, but he gets “pretty dirty, and sometimes the reindeer need to help.”

As to how he does it, usually “I just lay a finger aside of my nose” and then, by magic, “up the chimney I go.” Santa never goes anywhere without several of his trademark red suits made of German velvet with a faux fur trim. When Santa isn’t “working,” he can often be found sporting bright Hawaiian shirts, with festive patterns.

I wondered if any child had ever “caught” Santa as he went about his work. According to Santa, in more than 500 years only one child has been successful and, no, it wasn’t me. The lucky tot’s cleverness was rewarded with a book and a glass of milk with Father Christmas, before being sent back to bed.

Santa’s favorite activities are reading to children and visiting children and the young-at-heart at hospitals and residential care facilities like the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital and the Gorham House. Although he loves to meet kids at the mall, he also likes attending parties and both he and Mrs. Claus have been known to enjoy a Maine lobster dinner.

When Santa isn’t busy working with the elves or singing his favorite Christmas Carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” his favorite hobby is cooking, and he can usually be found in the kitchen making sure that “his little round belly” will shake when he laughs “like a bowl full of jelly.”

When Santa was a little elf, his favorite Christmas gifts were sleds and ice skates. This year, Santa’s wish is to take Mrs. Claus on a trip to North Carolina to visit their one-year-old granddaughter, Penelope, and her parents who are both in the medical branch of the Navy. Their son is scheduled for deployment with the Marines this November, and Santa Claus will do his jolly best to spread good cheer amongst the Marines and their families before they deploy. Otherwise, Santa admits that he doesn’t like to travel much, with one really BIG exception!

All too soon it was time for me to spring to my own “sleigh” and “I heard him exclaim as [I] drove out of sight, Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

Though some quotations used above are excerpts of Santa’s favorite poem, “Twas The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clark Moore published in 1823, many quotes came directly from Santa himself.

David Knight became Santa Claus in 1982. At that time, he was living on the island of Guam and working for the Navy. Though he currently enjoys his work with the U.S. Postal Service in Denmark, Maine, he has also worked as a paramedic with the fire and rescue departments in Naples and Casco.

Sharing his enthusiasm and Christmas spirit is his “way of giving back” and encouraging others to embrace “the spirit of giving.” Mrs. Claus, his biggest helper, shares his enthusiasm and thoroughly supports his efforts to spread Christmas cheer.

According to Knight, although Santa Claus is known by many names throughout the world, in essence, he is “the spirit of friendship and kindness that you share at Christmastime. Santa is a twinkle in your eye, and a smile on your face.”