Memory is funny. Things lie half forgotten, only to spring to life again unexpectedly. I was searching through old photos last week, and came across this one.
This was December 2002, at a Central Artery children's holiday party (a Santa-centered holiday, obviously). The organizers had asked for volunteers, and I talked Nick into coming in to help. This was Christmas of his eight grade - he was 12. We had the usual crowd of small children - this was the year before the opening of I-93, so the project was still in full swing, with lots of field offices, in addition to the staff at the 185 Kneeland Street building.
Nick agreed - we figured he'd be wrapping presents or serving cake and juice. Bill Edwards, who ran the project controls group for the Artery, was Santa (I never did find out why Bill did this, but he did it for years and was an outstanding Santa). Somewhere in the course of the morning, someone asked Nick if he would help Bill - be Santa's elf, and Nick must have said yes.
I liked this photo because it captures Nick's gentleness, particularly with children. He continued to play the elf for several more years, and I think was the elf the last year the project held a party - probably 2005.
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