I was of the tender age of 8 when I was introduced to Raiders of the Lost Ark. In my young mind, most television was based upon truth. Imagine my shock when I discovered that Indiana Jones had found the Lost Ark and how that hadn't been taught in Sunday school!
Four years later I picked up a copy of Last Crusade from the local Goodwill. Though money was tight, mother bought it as it featured both Harrison Ford and Sean Connery which meant it had to be a good movie.
The following months I dived deep into everything I could find out about the series. Imagine my surprise when my friend and I discovered there was going to be a 4th Indiana Jones film released the folllwing May! I enlisted the help of my scout troop and their airsoft guns and we began crafting the most horrid fan-film (1 of 3 might I add) of Indiana Jones with yours truly in the title role. Just look at that photo, I was absolutely intimidating can't you tell?
Christmas as I enjoy it today was far from my mind. I was living in Meridian Idaho where white Christmases were scarce but we had plenty of warm weather. Yet, that Christmas I received all of the films on DVD and three leather jackets to choose from! With my mother's permission, I used her card to order a fan fedora and bull whip. Production of our first fan-film could now officially begin, and we did just that.
On our scout camp-outs away in the mountains, I would wear my complete costume under my snow-suit. On regular summer outings, again, I was Dr. Jones. Even today wearing that get-up is one of the most comfortable things to put on as the whole costume was well thought out and I've become accustomed to it.
When my first bullwhip arrived, it being 8 feet and only 4 plait (which means it only had 4 leather strands braided around the core), I struggled to get it to work properly. Though I eventually did discover how to get it to crack and do a few stunt moves, it was a process that came with many accidental lashes to my back, shoulders, and occasionally my head.
A decade before, when I was caught up in the celebrations of Christmas and Santa Claus, I drew a series of drawings depicting Santa, his sleigh, and reindeer. Always on the sleigh was a whip much like the one featured at the end of this old Disney cartoon. When I watched Miracle on 34th Street, both versions portrayed the relationship Santa has with knowing how to use a whip.
Now, being both an avid Indiana Jones fan and Santa Claus representative, it is my pleasure to showcase in this week's episode a certain skill that the Santa Claus up at the North Pole undoubtedly has. Perhaps it's an adventure you yourself may be entertained by!
You can watch this week's episode here: Season 02
Yours as always,
Santa Stuart
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