MARYSVILLE – Being one of the most-famous people in the world, it’s probably not surprising that Santa Claus is hounded by fans even when it is not Christmas.

“He gets stopped in restaurants no matter what time of year,” Mrs. Claus said prior to an engagement at Haggen’s in Marysville recently.

Parents and kids sit on his lap even when he is not dressed in red. They tell their kids “they better be good” because Santa’s watching.

No one wants to get on Santa’s “Naughty List.” They said most people in Marysville don’t have to worry about that.

“It’s a nice town,” Santa said. “At least they’re nice when they are around us.”

Mrs. Claus added: “Naughty people don’t even try to come around us.”

Santa said one time they were at a local senior center where a White Elephant gift exchange was taking place. Nobody even stole away any of the gifts because they didn’t want to get on the “Naughty List.”

Santa has received some interesting wishes from children sitting on his lap.

Recently, a boy about 9-years-old asked him for a Ford F-150. Another youngster asked that a pet that had just died be brought back to life.

“Santa makes toys,” he told them.

Even Santa gets embarrassed

As you might imagine, Santa has had some embarrassing moments. He once sat on a chair wrong and split his pants.

“I walked behind him pretty closely when he was leaving,” Mrs. Claus said with her ever-present smile. “You protect the ones you love.”

Another funny thing happened one of the first times they took over for the previous Santa and Mrs. Claus about 17 years ago. A family had rented a place for a private party and wanted to surprise the kids. But the Clauses, who only use the sleigh at Christmas, arrived in a new car.

“We did not know about all the whistles and bells,” Mrs. Claus said, adding the car alarm went off, spoiling the surprise.

Santa also has had a 504-pound man sit on his lap, along with a 104-year-old.

Santa often visits hospitals with his wife to cheer up people. On one such visit he was called into a delivery room and held a baby not 15 minutes old.

On a similar visit, Santa met with someone who had severe deformities. When they came back around a while later, the mom was in the doorway crying.

“That was the first time he smiled in weeks,” Mrs. Claus said the mom told them. “We’re just there having fun, but we do really make a difference.”

Staying with friends

When Santa and Mrs. Claus are in Marysville they stay with friends Bill and Sally Alexander, who have been married for 52 years. The reindeer stay up in the mountain passes “and play in the snow” because, despite their name, they don’t like rain, Santa said.

Despite having the elves around, and all the kids in the world for that matter, the Clauses sometimes wish they had their own children, although the Alexanders have four.

“Sometimes I have a baby on my lap I don’t want to give back,” Santa said with a ho-ho-ho belly laugh.

Mrs. Claus replied: “You gotta have kids around. They keep you young and on your toes asking questions.”As for what they like to do in their spare time, Mrs. Claus said she likes to travel. But then she doesn’t have to go around the world every year in 24 hours like Santa does using his “Christmas Magic.”

Santa has liked photography since he was 12. He also enjoys the Mariners.

As for the elves, Santa said they usually are energetic, but when they need motivation he handles them positively and gently.

“Cookies and hot chocolate,” that’s what gets them going, Santa said.

Mrs. Claus added: “They can smell when I’m baking, and they’re right around the corner.”

Mrs. Claus said she does worry about Santa’s health but she doesn’t nag him about it.

“The doctor is on his back, his dietician and insurance. He doesn’t” need me to do it, too, she said.

Asked if she’d like if Santa was clean shaven, Mrs. Claus pondered a few seconds.

“No, I kind of like the beard,” which he’s had for 30 years, she said. He lets it grow scraggly long in December, but she likes it best in “January when he trims it up neater. It’s so pretty.”

Tough times, too

Being Santa is not all fun and games. The Clauses have sad times, too.

Each year they go to Echo Glen, a prison for youngsters ages 11-14. Some of the kids are in shackles.

“And when the metal door closes behind you, it’s rough,” Santa said.

Mrs. Claus added: “Some look like the kid next door. They were just in the wrong place. They need love, too.”

Santa said there are about 150 youngsters there. They have a donut and hot chocolate, “And that’s their Christmas party.”

But what the Clauses like most about Christmas are the “smiling faces,” not just from kids on his lap at stores, but in the people they see all over town.

They recently went to a Marysville school to meet with some special needs children.

“They were so excited, just screaming,” Mrs. Claus said.

She added that they also like going to retirement centers.

“We should probably be in one ourselves,” she joked while giving a motherly smile with eyes twinkling.

She said they see miracles there, especially from Alzheimer’s patients.

“They remember Santa. They are so happy to see him,” she said.

Mrs. Claus usually reads “The Night Before Christmas.”

“We can see the people mouthing the words right along with me,” she said.