ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The North Pole? Forget about that. Ice and snow? Nope. Mrs. Claus enjoys her garden too much. Red fur-trimmed outfits?.

Not in the south. Not now.

The reindeer?

Well, the reindeer are being cared for in a climate that suits them. It’s so hot here that Blitzen’s nose would burn then glow like Rudolph’s.

Mr. and Mrs. S. Claus make the most of their “vacation” in Lower Alabama. The Independent tracked them down, but agreed not to use the names they are living under, nor reveal their address beyond the town. They take keeping the magic alive seriously.

But we can tell you that the couple loves to don those red outfits and make Christmas magic for area children in the winter.

“He started it before we were married,” said Mrs. Claus.

“I wanted to do something for the kids,” said Santa.

Santa once worked as a mechanic for the Washington, D.C. police department and had a lawn care business. He says he was “too busy” to play Santa for his own children.

But something happened. The too-busy man developed a slower, softer side, and found that there was time for Christmas.

And while the holiday season is merry, bright, filled with ribbons and bright lights, there are tragic times.

Mrs. Claus recalls one visit to the doctor. “The receptionist at the doctor’s office asked if we would do Santa for her family in December.”

The Clauses learned the receptionist’s father was dying and of course, they had to visit.

“I think the family took a million pictures,” recalled Mrs. Claus.

The man died a few months later, and the Clauses, in civilian garb, went to the wake. They were surprised to see the man’s pictures with them on the memorial display the family had made.

“I got cold chills,” said Mrs. Claus.

Another time, Santa learned of a young boy who was probably going to be in the hospital over Christmas. Santa made arrangements to visit in the hospital (hospitals have strict rules about visitors) only to find out that the youngster made it home. Time for a house call.

“We snuck in the back door,” said Santa, “and you should have seen the look on his face.”

There’s also the time when a youngster at one of Santa’s stops asked for exactly the present Santa was planning to give him.

“I had hunted all over for those figures,” said Santa with a grin.

And how long does Mr. Claus plan on keeping on the tradition in Lower Alabama?

“I want to keep doing it until the Man upstairs calls me,” he said.