Gut Instinct

This weekend on the way home from Banff, me and the girls were about ten minutes away from home when we came up and over a crest of a hill. At the bottom was a well dressed older gentleman with a hat and gloves on and he had his thumb out. I knew instantly in my gut that I had to see what was up, however I was not alone and had two other ladies to think about. As we drove closer to him, my head started following my gut and I checked behind me to make sure I wasn't being to closely followed by anyone. The truck in front of me signaled and turned left into a road approach and I pulled the van over to the right about ten meters away from the man. Rolling down the window I heard him tell the people in the truck that he was going to catch a ride with us. He came and introduced himself with a big smile. He told us his name, that he lived on top of the hill and needed to go into town to pick up his wife's car and that she was in Victoria. He asked if we would give him a ride to town. I didn't even think twice as I nodded and said yes. My girlfriends were laughing by this time and I'm sure they thought I was nuts. The gentleman asked us where we were from and we told him, and how long each of us had lived here. Still laughing I told him I was born and raised here and that I thought it was hilarious that I just picked up Santa Clause. Yes as embarrassing as it sounds I just called him Santa. it really just fell out of my mouth. I have a habit of not thinking before I speak, to my defense he did look a lot like the jolly old man. He was bigger build, a white goatee and beard. He also had a jolly laugh and a great contagious positive attitude. However much he look like Santa the whole van went quiet and he chuckled to himself and said "Well, actually I am" I was speechless. I had really just picked up Santa. He went on to explain that he had indeed been the town Santa for seventeen years. Serving the town at the annual Christmas light up our town holds every year. Having been born and raised here (26 years)and having attended the light up for most of those years I was flabbergasted, I had probably sat on the mans knee countless times and now here I am picking up Santa as a hitch hiker. We chit chatted with him for the rest of the way. He regaled us with a tale about hitch hiking to his sons basketball game. We arrived to town, pulled into the dealership and he tried to get out but I had the child locks on, laughing I got out and let him out. He gave us some money for a bottle of wine. Getting back in the car I knew the girls were going to let me have it but before they could I explained about my gut instinct. I had to stop, I know hitch hikers are not safe to pick up but I had to. I knew that if I did not, I would think about it for a long time. I really don't think picking up hitch hikers is a great idea, it all depends on the circumstances. Use your gut and listen to your heart, you'll never know what will happen. In my case I met a great, funny, and high standing community member and have a great story to tell.