Letter from the Editor

VOL. 17 • NO. 12 • DECEMBER 2021

Being Santa isn't easy, but one for one Moore man and his wife, assuming the roles of that jolly old elf from the North

Pole and his detail-oriented wife is as comfortable and familiar as a favorite flannel shirt.

He lost his business and his family due to his alcoholism, but found redemption and restoration in helping others overcome their battles with addiction and mental health issues.

Now, the non-profit named after Dick Virtue is building a new facility that will help continue the impact of that mission.

RESONATE GIFTS: It was an idea that was born on the other side of the world with a focus on Indian coffee. But now it has given way to a unique shop in Moore that specializes in a wide variety of custom gifts designed for any person and any occasion.

PEYTON THOMAS: He's just another outdoor-loving high school junior who loves hanging out with his friends. Until he steps onto a wrestling mat and his "alter ego" takes over. And that second personality may help this Moore Lion win a state championship.

4Letter from the Editor 12 Randall's Light up the Night to

14 Boomtown

A Season of Hope & Light 17 Senior Living

Holiday Depression: Strategies for Overcoming Seasonal Stress 18 Brand Senior Center Activities 20 Moore Moments 22 Business Building Blocks

Healthcare Career Outlook in Oklahoma 26 Taste Local

Alexandria Mediterranean Cuisine: Passion for Great Food Leads to New Restaurant 28 Heroes of Moore: Veteran's Spotlight

John Arambula 29 Heroes of Moore: 1st Responder Spotlight

Sgt. Austin Schettler 30 Calendar of Events 35 Moore Healthy

NRHS Teams Up with Feed the Children to Fight Holiday Hunger

36 Ask a Dietician

Apocalypse of a Healthy Lifestyle

38 Class Acts

Class Acts Honors Outstanding High School and Jr. High Kids in Moore and South OKC

40 Book Reviews

Maid and Rumple Buttercup

41 Pioneer System Library Calendar 42 The Station Schedule 46 Sports Calendar 46 Sports Calendar 50 Sports Photos

The vast majority of us have long since stopped believing in a red-suited elf and his tiny reindeer putting UPS and FedEX delivery drivers to shame with his spectacular one-night delivery miracle.

But c'mon, kids. There's still something magical about this time of the year, isn't there.

As Bill Murray noted in the movie Scrooged, Christmas Eve is "...the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer...we smile a little easier...we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be!”

This month's cover story features a Moore couple who have taken their unique resemblance to Mr. and Mrs. Kris Kringle and turned it into a moment of generosity. You'll also meet the Randall's, who spend countless hours building a Christmas dreamland in their front yard to raise money for hungry kids.

The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Moore. Don't miss your chance to soak it in this holiday season.

Moore Monthly

Publisher Brent Wheelbarger Writer/Editor Rob Morris Designer April Burgess For ad placement, specifications and rates, call or email Aleta Wheelbarger 405-659-7224 | aleta@mooremonthly.com

Santa and Mrs. Claus were speechless.

What can you say to two little boys who, having lost their father recently, have sent Santa a letter with one Christmas wish: "Please give us our daddy back."

Even if you were the real deal with Christmas magic galore at your white-gloved fingertips, what do you say to that? What can you do?

"I tried my best to stay in character and not cry," said John Burruss. "It was such a hard thing because little boys love their daddy. But he was gone, and all they wanted for Christmas was for daddy to come back."

You can't blame those little boys for believing they were talking to the real Kris Kringle. Burruss and his wife, Donna, are the spitting image of Jolly Old You-Know-Who. And it goes far beyond the physical likeness. It's as if the couple has somehow internalized the magic of Christmas and then projected it into the air around them.

"This is our third year to be Mr. and Mrs. Santa in Moore," said Donna. "But John has been doing this a long, long time."

A long, long time takes us all the way back to 1985 and where a burly, semi-young football coach with a background in drama and music found his way into a Santa suit and a helicopter, circling a Moore shopping center.

"I had a friend of mine who was doing marketing for the company who owned the shopping center," said Burruss. "She called up and said, 'I need a Santa. I'll get you the suit. You just be there.' We took off from the old airport and flew in, and I played Santa that day."

From that ad-libbed and humble beginning, John and Donna have blossomed into the embodiment of the North Pole's First Couple. They say one of the reasons the roles fit them so well is their deep faith in Christ and the accompanying embrace of the season's true spirit. It was that faith that guided John/Santa as he talked to the two little boys who had lost their dad.

"The Holy Spirit basically guided that conversation," said John. "I said, 'I can't bring your daddy back because he's in heaven, and as much as you miss him, that's where he needs to be. But would it be ok if we brought a friend to see you and spend some time with you?"

That friend turned out to be star OU linebacker Rocky Calmus, who was attending the same church as the Burrusses at the time. Calmus told John he'd be happy to visit the boys.

"And that's how Santa and Rocky Calmus came to visit two little boys on Christmas at the same time," said John. "Those little boys didn't forget about their daddy, but you could see their eyes light up, and some of the pain wash away."

As passionate as John is about bringing the magic of Christmas into kids' lives, it pales in comparison to his better half. Donna's background has always been working with children, first in daycare and then for years working with special needs children in the Moore Public School district.

"It's all about the kids for me," said Donna. "I love kids, and they've always been a part of my life, back when I owned a daycare center and then when I worked in the schools."

While John, with his theater background and larger-thanlife personality, can command the room, Donna works in tandem with him, keeping things flowing smoothly.

"It's just a blessing because we work great as a team," said Donna. "I can make things easier for him because I can spot those children who might be afraid or tense and get them calmed down."

As you might expect, the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are jammed with appearances for Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

"We're usually out four to seven days a week, and on Saturdays and Sundays, it's almost from sunup to sundown," said John.

The couple makes appearances at every kind of gathering you could imagine, from corporate events and parties to children's centers and senior living homes.

"We dearly love visiting those children who've had difficult times because of abuse and neglect," said Donna. "It's a chance to share some love with them and let them know that they are important."

"The senior adult facilities are great, too," said John. "They'll have a family night where moms and dads bring the kids to see their

And of course, there are dozens of moments that always manage to challenge Mr. and Mrs. Claus to think quickly on their feet:

• The little boy who followed them around all night because he was worried Santa wouldn't be able to find he and his family, who were going to be on vacation in Hawaii on Christmas (Santa has already been notified of your vacation plans). • The kids who wonder where Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer are (they work so hard on Christmas night that they get a whole year to rest and play reindeer games).

• The slightly older kids who are just beginning to lean into that dangerous place where they no longer believe in Santa (There are folks who believe and those who don't. But even if you choose not to believe, the Christmas magic will still reach you one way or another).

Then there are those moments when the magic of Santa washes over a situation even though they're not in costume.

"I was helping my granddaughter buy a used car a few years back," said John, "We were over at this apartment complex looking at the car and talking to the owner, and this little boy just kind of kept circling and looking at me like, 'You might be HIM. I'm just not sure.' Finally, he looked up at me and said, 'Santa?' So, I got down on one knee and kind of went into character and talked to him. He was so happy, but he was also wondering, 'Why are you buying a car?'"

Their uncanny likenesses to the Claus's always keep the Burrusses on their toes. Both John and Donna agree that it's a beautiful way to spend their retirement. And the money they make from the appearances ends up as donations for organizations like Moore Love and the Courage League or help sweeten the Christmas present fund for their grandchildren. They make free benefit appearances for organizations as well.

"It's certainly not a job," said John. "It's a blessing that we get to do this and even get paid a little bit."

Donna said, "One of the added bonuses for us is that we get to experience that Christmas magic over and over throughout the whole season."

And for a couple who are deeply invested in family, that kind of magic is the kind that lasts for generations.