Every year as Christmas approaches, my wife starts referring to me as Mr Conductor. For us, it’s both a subtle sign of appreciation, but also a warning: “Husband, you are reaching over to the crazy side of Christmas planning; keep it together.”

I tend to get overly excited about creating the perfect Christmas experience for my family, including, but not limited to: pyjamas for days on end, hot chocolate, and watching The Polar Express on repeat. And she’s right — I do see myself as the Conductor of our family at this time of year,  getting the family on board for Christmas fun! Heaven knows, the boys will be too big for all this soon enough, so I do try my best now, when they appreciate it most.

I associate with the Conductor from Polar Express on many different levels. He is both the wise and compassionate guide into the magic kingdom and a strict professional who doesn’t tolerate any nonsense on his watch. Call me a boomer, but I respect that a lot.

From the moment we meet him, the Conductor exudes a sense of calm and authority. His moustache, half-moon spectacles (I wonder if he shops at the same shops as Professor Dumbledore?), trim uniform, and the magnificent hole-puncher are all very exciting and very reassuring personal objects that make the character all the more alive and relatable. Old-timey, nostalgic, real.

On top of all that, his main purpose in life seems to be helping children believe in Christmas by literally taking them to see the real Santa at the North Pole. What a job!

Although it’s unlikely that I’ll be replacing the conductor on The Polar Express anytime soon, it’s my sincerest wish that I can do for my kids what he does for the children in the movie —bringing the magic and joy of Christmas year after year.  And, let’s face it, soon I’ll be needing my own half-moon spectacles anyway. Now if only I could grow a moustache that magnificent…