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Santa Claus made a special visit to Nobel Manor Monday to visit with residents and spread his own brand of Christmas cheer.

Santa had come all the way from the North Pole to visit with the residents at the Troy assisted living facility and he brought along a bag filled with tiny Christmas sock monkeys. 

Santa’s arrival was a surprise and a delight for the residents.

“Our residents always look forward to Santa’s coming,” said Jimmy Law, administrator. “And, I think Santa enjoys visiting with the residents as much as they enjoy him.”

Santa said, yes, indeed.

“I look forward to coming to Noble Manor every year,” he said. “And, I hope they enjoy having me as much as I enjoy being here.”

Santa invited the residents to sit on his knee and many of the ladies laughingly agreed.

“You may have to help me get up,” laughed Ann McSwean but then bounced right off.

Santa asked the ladies if they had been naughty or nice and then quipped, “Good girls go to heaven. Bad girl go everywhere!”  And, all the ladies laughed.

The residents seemed anxious to make a good impression on Santa Claus, all except one.

Santa could not coax Myra Wilson, a die-hard Auburn fan to say, “Roll, Tide!” As hard as he tried all she would say was “War Eagle!”

Santa shared some Christmas tidbits with the residents before returning to the North Pole.

“Did you know that Alabama was the first state to celebrate Christmas,” Santa said. “That was in 1836. And, most of us probably thought that ‘Jingle Bells’ was written by someone up in snowy New England or out in mountainous Colorado. But, no, it was written by a man in Savannah, Georgia.

Santa said he made a special effort to visit Nobel Manor because all of the residents are special people.

“They make Christmas merry and bright for me,” he said.