Christmas memories | my favorite gift w/ grandpa

— 25 December 2023 —

Christmas Memories | my favorite gift 

| December 2010

When I was five years old—our last Christmas before moving to Colorado for two years—Grandpa took me and my sister to see Disney’s Tangled when it came out to theaters. We went to the theater in the center of town. Got popcorn as was tradition and knowing Grandpa there was probably also a soda or chocolate or candy treat too. I don’t actually remember watching it, but I remember loving it. After, it was nearing evening because I remember wanting to wear a princess dress but it was too cold and I needed a jacket which totally ruined the look. After watching the movie, Grandpa gave me soft purple and pink slippers with Rapunzel on them. 

That year for Christmas I was OBSESSED with everything that had to do with Tangled. A princess with long magic hair that sings, an artist, friend to animals, and just everything about her I loved. 

That year we celebrated Christmas at Grandpa’s house. A little wood cabin surrounded by forest. A wood stove warmed the house—Grandpa would always caution us around it. It was dark and warm—the colors were cozy and dim. Night came fast and the multicolored bulbs from the Christmas lights on the tree—one that was up all around the year and never got taken down until years later—shone in the room. Presents were wrapped under the tree in packages and wrapping paper. Grandpa and mom and everyone else—the grown ups—all made food and chatted about. I remember peeking at one of my presents to find out what it was but then instantly feeling guilty about peeking and never did it again because I felt horrible and had to pretend to be surprised when I opened a little baby doll of Snow White. I loved that doll. A Snow White baby doll with black hair and a little red bow and a kind of tutu onesie that was yellow and blue and sparkly. 

Grandpa got me my favorite present of them all. He got me my very own “floating lantern”. It was a little night light. A cylinder shaped light, with holes all around the edges to make the light from the inside shine out like little stars in the night as it spun around (kinda like a music box). Painted on the outside were Flinn and Rapunzel holding hands while in the little boat with the lanterns (the holes) all around them. It played the song “And At Last I See The Light”. 

I remember it was my favorite because while everyone was talking in the living room and looking through their presents, Grandpa pulled me aside to the kitchen. He got out batteries and put them into the little light. Then he had the lights in the kitchen dining room turned off. He hit the start button. Stars shone all around the room. Little moving shooting stars danced around the ceiling, the table, the walls, and me and Grandpa. Music filled the room. It was just me and him. There was no one else. That was so special to me. It was special he took time to be just with me. 

At that moment he gave me my dream, my five year old heart's wish. He gave me my very own floating light. A floating lantern. It was better than any floating lantern because it came from him and it played music and lit up the night. For that moment everything was perfect…

That became my favorite Christmas memory. For years I held on to that day. I forgot about it. I forgot about that day until I was here writing all this down today, December 22nd 2023. I wish I could tell him about that memory and how much it meant to me. 

Now it’s Christmas Day and I’m sharing this memory here with you! I want to keep this memory here where I can go back to and remember. I don’t want to forget a thing. So many memories with grandpa I hold onto dearly. I want to write them down. I want to share them. There are so many things I could say but for now, I want to leave it at this.

Merry Christmas friends! <3