Rudolph goes purple….

Originally written June, 2022

A year ago, the holidays were upon us, but so was omicron. People were trying to figure out their safety zones. Wait, isn’t this where we were in 2020? Limited gatherings? No gatherings? Oy.

In pre-vaccine 2020, a neighbor suffered a family loss and decided to channel her sadness into being an elf. (Yes, you read that correctly.) Small presents began appearing at the homes of nearby neighbors, signed “From an Elf”.  No one knew who the elf was but everybody was diverted from pandemic sadness to - delight. Such a relief.

Feeling weighed down again by the 2021 pandemic unknowns and a litany of continuing, crappy, 24 hour news cycles, I felt an inner ELF begin to rise up. Not wishing to purloin the already-taken “elf” nomenclature, “Rudolph and the Reindeer Gang” was born. However, I had absolutely no idea what Rudolph and the Reindeer Gang could give as anonymous gifts (to LOTS of neighbors.) None whatsoever….

Now, stick with me. I’m taking a detour; Rudolph and the Reindeer Gang will be right back…trust me.

I’m quite a few years out of high school. 😉 Over these “quite a few years,” a classmate built and maintained a Facebook page for our high school graduating class of 500+, becoming the glue for all of us. Multiple reunions, how to find a lost classmate, the sharing of obituaries, and keeping politics off this nostalgic page. Oh, wait, did I mention that she and I are on completely opposite ends of the political spectrum? She likely avoids some of my FB posts and I do the same with some of hers. However, I’ve developed a very deep respect for her many-years-long feat of holding our class together. She also enjoys my “This Being Human Thing” stories (and, of course, I respect her good taste!)

Our respective blue and red have morphed into purple in some important areas of our lives. (Finally returning to Rudolph and the Reindeer Gang…) I’d shared the 2020 neighborhood elf story on Facebook and noted my desire to pick up the anonymous gift baton in 2021. BUT, I had absolutely no idea what kind of gifts could easily be left in mailboxes. I mentioned this in a Facebook exchange with my high school friend. Wunderbar, didn’t she just hit the ball out of the park with a wonderful suggestion! Lottery tickets!

Since North Carolina lottery proceeds benefit state education (so they tell us), I decided to go that route and purchased beaucoup scratch off‘s. I had a ball practicing my skulking skills, at dusk, leaving lottery tickets from Rudolph and the Reindeer Gang in mailboxes. (Only one neighbor caught me. He didn’t buy my explanation that I was a Girl Scout selling thin mint chocolate cookies a bit early.)

Soon our neighborhood listserv lit up with the palpable joy of being acknowledged and touched by unexpected light during a trying time. And I was able to celebrate that in a country of red and blue, purple DOES exist. Thanks, Gayle HR!

❤️Please consider sharing with others. Who couldn’t use more heart and humor?