How the Grinch Saved Christmas
I’ve always been a Dr. Seuss fan. My mom read Dr. Theodore Geisel’s books to me as a kid and I read them myself and I read them to my kids. One day I hope to read them to a grandkid…but I’m not ready just yet. I can still recite “Green Eggs and Ham” by heart. And I often credit “Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!” as the original inspiration for my imagination. (Some have accused me of adopting a writing style that copies a Dr. Seuss rhyming pattern, but if I do, I can’t tell, can you?)
Perhaps the greatest legacy of Dr. Seuss is “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”. The book. The song. The original animated movie in 1966, and yes, even the live action film in 2000 starring Jim Carrey. I love them all.
Unlike other beloved Christmas movie characters like Buddy the Elf, George Bailey, Clark Griswold and Ralphie, the Grinch is an anti-hero, not the wide-eyed, spirit-filled protagonist who puts a tree up before Thanksgiving.
The Grinch relates to us all on some level. We all know that guy who’s a bit grouchy, pessimistic, and hates wearing pants. You know the kind; a loner who talks mostly to his dog. The guy’s never happy and envious of other people who are “in the spirit.”
I’ve been stressed out lately for a litany of reasons; personal and professional. I shall not bore you with the details, but in this “most wonderful time of the year” I’ve been more Grinch than Mensch. It started with a bug that I couldn’t shake for 2.5 weeks and on top of stress and deadlines and dealing with “stuff,” I’ve been in a bah-humbug mood since Turkey Day.
I had a long day of shopping and Christmas prep last week. The post office lost a package and sent two “package delayed” notifications. The tag on the item I purchased at Target was ripped and I got held hostage for nearly an hour trying to find the price. And 16 other things.
At 9 p.m., I started tackling the presents with wrapping paper and a glass of holiday cheer. The tape dispenser broke and so did the glass. Defeated, I sat down in front of the TV and Grinched out on Grinch movies. I smiled and laughed and forgot all about my “first world problems.” Within a few hours, my heart grew three sizes.
I hope you have a very merry Christmas and remember, “maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.”
MONDAY:
PAWLIDAY CHEER
Last Saturday, Holiday Barn Pet Resorts hosted Compassion Animal Project‘s second annual Holiday Pet Food Pantry Pop-Up event in Midlothian! This event distributed 6,500 pounds of pet food to pets and pet owners in need for the holiday season and we were proud to help spread the word. You can read more here!
TUESDAY:
NEW YEAR, NEW WEBSITE!
An incoming new year is the perfect time for a newly refreshed website! And that’s just what we’re working on with our clients at Birmingham Green and Chesapeake Economic Development. Our team takes time to meet with our clients to get a thorough understanding of what they want and need — as well as what they don’t want or need —and then helps them craft a web presence that they love and is most effective for them! Keep an eye out to see the updates.
WEDNESDAY:
AND THAT’S A WRAP!
On Wednesday, we filmed the final elements needed for the first video PSA in our ongoing Ceasefire Virginia campaign with the Virginia Office of the Attorney General. We brought the lights, camera, and one hardworking fake mustache to the Virginia Repertory Theater for the day and we are so excited to see the results as we work to make Virginia safer from violent crime and illegal guns. Stay tuned to see more!
THURSDAY:
#SHOPSMALL
Unlike the rest of humanity, I don’t buy Christmas gifts on Amazon. It’s essentially for the same reason I try to stay away from Walmart. I see mega stores as the arch enemy of small business. So on Thursday, I finally started Christmas shopping, with visits to some of my favorite local shops in Carytown, Southside, and Northside. Some of my favorites include World of Mirth, AlterNatives, For the Love Of Chocolate, and Mongrel. I also recently discovered a cool list of independent shops in the Richmond region, 275 of them, to be exact.
FRIDAY:
COOL CLIENT GIFTS
All of the Madison+Main client and partners gifts have now been delivered, so we can finally share our clever gift this year. Our creative team created RVATone posters, featuring many of the landmarks that make RVA great. We framed them and gave them out along with a roll of custom wrapping paper with the same design. We enjoyed adding a little color to everyone’s holiday!
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS
Give Back This Season with CHRISTMAS MOTHER
Part of the beautiful legacy of Miss Lucy Corr, the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother program is a nonprofit, charitable organization that was established in 1972 by Miss Lucy Corr, then superintendent of the Chesterfield County Welfare Department. The program has expanded over the years to include Chesterfield and Colonial Heights and is currently managed by a committee of volunteers. The program’s purpose is to help families, elders, and foster children not be forgotten during the holiday season and share the magic of the holidays.
You can make a world of difference by donating or volunteering and bringing joy and hope to those in our community who need it the most this season!
DOMINION ENERGY GARDENFEST OF LIGHTS
Nightly through Sunday, January 7, 2024
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden | 1800 Lakeside Avenue | Richmond, Virginia 23228
Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights is a favorite tradition featuring millions of lights, botanical decorations, model trains, festive dinners, warming fire, hot chocolate and s’mores, and more!
Get tickets online before going, or buy at the door – and don’t miss it!
“Maybe Christmas, (he thought,) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.“ — The Grinch