Grandma’s Elf on the Shelf

I came from a large, loud family. Being shy and creative, I sought peace and inspiration during hectic times by visiting my Grandma, living nearby. I was rewarded with cookies, tea, and her undivided attention…which I treasured.

My Grandma died when my children were young. I inherited her collection of miniature mid-century children’s wooden ornaments. Too tiny to hang with today’s over-sized ornaments...
...the collection was proudly displayed on an otherwise obscured-from-Christmas hallway shelf, cherished reminders of my connection to Grandma.

Recently, on our busy tree-decorating day that included our granddaughter’s help, our niece and her husband, parents of three boys all under age six, surprised us with a visit. Once again encountered by some hectic, large-family exuberance, we happily chatted while our granddaughter retreated shyly, keeping herself creatively occupied, her blonde bangs bobbing into view occasionally as she kept track of us from behind the couch. She seemed to be on a secret mission back and forth between the hallway and the tree.

After our guests left, we discovered that a small chair had been dragged underneath our hallway shelf (now bare...my Grandma’s ornaments gone!). My granddaughter’s mission had been transporting each ornament from the shelf to the tree, carefully hanging them by their delicate threads onto the “perfect” branch. Unknowingly, my shy granddaughter had touched my past, her creativity also inspired by my Grandma.
Needless to say, we’ve begun a new tradition with her ornaments.

Merry Christmas, Grandma Foeller!

Merry Christmas to all...and to all, a good night!

Contributed by Kathy Bolger, Senior Graphic Designer, Today’s Woman magazine.