The first in line

Monday, December 5, 2011
Pointing out the dots next to the items he really wants, Austin Pennington goes over his Christmas list with Santa Claus during Santa's visit to Cloverdale. The seven-year-old was the first in line to see the man in red Saturday afternoon. He is the son of Lindsay Meek and Nick Pennington.

CLOVERDALE -- What does it take to be first in line to visit with Santa Claus? You just might have to skip part of the Christmas parade.

Seven-year-old Austin Pennington of Cloverdale gave an unclear response when asked if he had watched the entirety of the Saturday's Cloverdale Christmas Parade on Main Street (U.S. 231).

"I watched the music," Pennington said, referring to the Cloverdale High School and Middle School bands.

To be clear, though, the marching bands were not the end of the parade, making their appearance even before the fat man in red and two helpers rolled through town in a beautiful horse-drawn carriage.

Then again, what good is it to see him in the middle of the street if you can be the first to sit on his lap? It is probably more important to present him with your itemized Christmas list, complete with "dots next to the stuff I really want."

So excited was Austin for the visit that when Mr. Claus said "You're getting so big," he replied, "Well, I am six."

Austin is, in fact, seven years old.

"He's so excited he forgot how old he is," Austin's mom Lindsay Meek said with a laugh.

But who isn't excited this time of year?

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