Meet Ron Vailencourt,

He has been a bell ringer for the Salvation Army for seven years. His location this year was in front of Fred Meyer in Burien. He is gone now till next Christmas but he has lots of amazing stories.

I asked him if he was the real Santa because his beard was pretty short. He said it used to be clear down to his chest. One day he was leaning over the kitchen range not knowing his wife had turned on a back burner. In a flash it had melted down to where it is now.

A retired machinist who lives in SeaTac, he takes times out each year from his sideline to help out. He makes leather purses, wallets, belts-you name it-in his home workshop.

I gave him my card and when he put it in his wallet I spotted a card showing the front page of a well-known fishing magazine. So I asked why he carried it. "Oh," he said, "I won their fishing derby three years ago. I caught a 23-pound lake trout from Lake Tanwax."

I was stunned because I have fished that lake and never caught anything over 10 inches.

He went on. "I had hooked and lost him two or three times so I went to the boathouse and bought some popcorn, found a small plank, sprinkled the popcorn on the water and when he came up and was gorging on the popcorn I just netted him. That is the truth."

Next time I am taking popcorn with me.

Then I asked how much he collects each day and he said he did not know because it is counted after he turns it in. But he did say he once had a well-dressed dude drop a penny in his kettle, make a rude remark and walk on.

He just thanked the man.

Bell ringers do find some unusual stuff in their kettles. He once had a young lady lose her diamond engagement ring in her donation attempt. She must have been in panic when she called the Salvation Army that evening. Yep, they had found it.

But this tops 'em all.

Somebody shocked the Army when they deposited a check for-ready for this? A check for $10,000 and a note that read, "Thanks for all the coffee and doughnuts."

Turned out a former GI appreciated the Salvation Army and wanted to show his gratitude.