Biker Santa delivers gifts daily

When tipped off to this particular sussy, Meggie and I were in disbelief. According to the person that nominated this sussy-recipient, a “guy that looks like Santa Claus sits outside of a Starbucks every single day simply to say “hi” people and brighten their day.” Huh? Let me get this straight, a person that looks like Santa Claus takes time out of his day to simply bring the gift of a smile to random strangers’ faces? Wrong. The people aren’t exactly strangers. Everybody knows this smile Santa. He’s often the best part of the smiler’s day. Here’s the original email from the nominator, Gwyn Cornell.

I’d like to nominate my friend Steve for a Sussy. I don’t know Steve’s last name, but he has said hello to me almost every morning for the last three years. Above is a photo of Steve, who I also refer to as “Biker Santa”:

Steve is at the Mass Ave Starbucks every morning, sitting outside and saying hello to everyone who passes by. I look forward to the near-daily “Good mornin’ darlin’!!” he directs my way. Parked nearby is his massive motorcycle with a rubber-duckie-adorned trailer (photo attached). I recently stopped to introduce myself to Steve and learned that after his morning visits to Starbucks, he drives his bike up to Wishard, fills his trailer full of meals and makes volunteer deliveries for Meals on Wheels. He REALLY IS Biker Santa!!!

I think Steve deserves a Starbucks gift card. I don’t have any way of contacting Steve other than knowing that he is at Starbucks every morning by 8:30am.

We were on it. How can we possibly pass up the chance to meet Biker Santa? Meggie emailed me, and asked if I wanted to dust off my sussy skills and be part of this jolly situation. I said yes, half selfishly because if he really was Santa, I wanted to know why he never brought me a skateboard in 1987. We met at Starbucks last Thursday, and to our delight, Biker Santa was there! We grabbed a Starbucks gift-card. Settle down, we paid for it.

We stepped back and watched, for Biker Santa was at work. He was INCREDIBLE. Cyclists, walkers, runners, businessmen, businesswomen, firemen, policemen, homeless people, kids, dogs, and even hipsters were the beneficiaries of his infectious “good morning!”

We were in awe. We approached him, and told him how much he meant to so many people. He was humble, gracious, and he thought Meggie was pretty. Hey, who doesn’t? He told us that he loves making people smile, and that he commits the bulk of his day doing just that. He pointed to his bike in the parking area. “I’m on the first 250,000 of my second 1,000,000 miles” he offered. Apparently Biker Santa is one of the most prolific motorcyclists around.

His name is Steve Kirkendoll, and he sent me the following email after we met him that morning.

Thanks for the kind words they go farther than anybody thinks.  i have enjoyed riding for the last twenty years and have had more than of great experences from people helping me in the most remote places. I stop on any chance I can help someone out of a jam. If everybody would just smile and say goodmorning or evening to all they see in a day what would change in our day to day experince, and everyone it I belive change a lot of lives and maybe the overall mood of our city, and just maybe people coming thru and going to next city or state. I love putting a smile on anyone  I meet if its  laughing at my  Santa Face or my art motorcycle or trailer. If we spread Just a little  JOY  how different would our world be?  Stephen” S Claus Kirkendoll.  P.S Its just my way of giving Back.

Please donate to Ride For Kids at:

Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

And plan to participate in the Ride for Kids on Sept.  8th 2013 in Indianapolis, IN at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Later that day, Meggie and I exchanged some texts. At first you can see her excitement that he was there, then you can see that I wanted her to hold him captive, then we worked out some logistics, and then we talked about how great he was.