For years I have been haunted by an innocent mistake I made as a puppy.  I stole Santa’s hat.  When I was a mere pup of 11 months old, Mom and Dad took me to get my picture taken with Santa, and let’s just say I got a bit overly excited.  Come on, who hasn’t overreacted when meeting a celebrity…and tried to steal their hat?  Long story short, Mom and Dad left the mall that day with a photo of Santa holding me in a very firm grip around my neck while looking slightly disheveled.  Since that time, every Christmas that photo is proudly displayed while Mom and Dad laugh about that fateful visit.  Geez, I was just a puppy barely out of obedience school!  Cut a dog some slack!

After a three year hiatus, last year I attempted to redeem myself by once again heading to the mall for a photo with Santa.  Surely the old guy would have forgotten my indiscretion as a puppy?  But just to be on the safe side, Asa refused to come with me.  After all Mr. Goody Paws posed perfectly with Santa all by himself when he was a puppy, and Asa didn’t want to ruin his reputation.  Well, Asa was correct.  I blew it again.  My excitement of meeting a celebrity got the better of me, and once again I greeted Santa with a bit too much enthusiasm.  But on the bright side, at least Santa didn’t try to strangle me.

However, Christmas is a season of forgiveness!  Of letting bygones, be bygones!  Besides, I found a NEW Santa who would accept me for me!  This Santa was hanging out at our local Petco, and was donating 100% of the proceeds for posing to local animal shelters.  Surely he would understand me?  Well to be on the safe side, I dragged Asa along just in case.  If guilt by association is a thing, shouldn’t it work the opposite way as well?  Perhaps by being seen with Asa, Santa would instantly put me on the Nice List, no questions asked.  So here’s how the visit went….

When we arrived once again I was overwhelmed with the excitement of meeting a celebrity.  Blame it on his overpowering scent of peppermint, the sound of squeaky toys in the air, or just the adrenaline pumping through my veins, but once again I got a tad overly excited.

Instantly I rushed over to greet him.  Santa didn’t even mind that I’m a 75 lbs. lapdog!

But that silly hat he wears got the better of me again!  Why can’t I leave that stupid pom pom alone?

That’s when Asa had enough and snapped me back into reality.  He wasn’t about to let my enthusiasm get him on the Naughty List.

It worked.  I snapped out of my celebrity induced puppy foolishness, and posed with Santa.  Making this the BEST photo of me and the big guy, ever!  I’m not sure if it got me off the Naughty List, only time will tell.  However, at least now I have a photo suitable for displaying on our mantle!  Thanks Santa!