Santa S Workshop

JOURNAL of a Christmas shopping trip:11 a.m. -- Arrive at mall. Parking lot looks like Woodstock. Woman in late-model BMW noses her car into handicapped space and practically sprints to the entrance. Way to go, honey. Don't worry about those people in wheelchairs. Heck, they'll find something. Besides, the fresh air will do them good. I park next to Dumpster approximately six miles from entrance. Am tempted to bring along a flare gun in case I get lost.11:10 -- Mall is packed. All I can say is: What recession?

When Roland F. F. Roehner was growing up in Hamilton, the middle room of his house was off limits from about Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. The door was locked from inside, with a key in the slot to block a curious child from peeping. But most nights a light shone under the door until the late hours."I was always told my father was working in there with Santa," recalls Mr. Roehner, who is 66.Finally on Christmas Eve, after the family meal, his mother, Esther, would stand by the locked door to blow a German-made plastic horn, the traditional shofar of the ancient Israelites that signals devotion to God.Only then were revealed the annual additions to August W. Roehner's intricate mechanical Christmas garden, recalls his son. A traditional nativity scene on one table and a Santa's workshop display on another were encircled at their bases by Lionel electric trains.

TIS THE SEASON to be merry, as they say, but this year the world is too much with us. Prospects of recession. War in the gulf. Homicide epidemic at home. And empty pockets with which to greet Santa.Went to Santa's workshop to buy brother Bob a gift. For years have entertained notion of presenting him with miracle compact disc player that plays "Art of Fugue," M. C. Hammer and Lawrence Welk polkas with equal aplomb.Asked Santa's helper how much was this very nice looking miracle compact disc player.

It's curtain time again at Northeast and Chesapeake high schools this weekend, as student thespians take to the stage in fall productions.Take an empty, old, cliffside house facing the sea in Connecticut, add a harried, aspiring playwright and his sister, throw in a series of suspicious deaths 15 years earlier and an evil spirit or two and you will have an idea of what's in store at Northeast High School's production."