So there I was, standing inside the covered entrance of Howsers IGA, wearing a borrowed Santa’s cap, red apron and jingly bracelet on my wrist. There was a red kettle by my side.
A gray-haired woman passed with an armload of groceries. I gave her a solicitous smile. She slipped a five-dollar-bill into the kettle.
“Wow, thank you!” I gave her two mini candy canes.
“No, thank you,” she responded, “for volunteering for such a…