RED ANGEL
Kevin Dougherty
Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) with 806 Technologies/40 years Educator/Serving Educators/ Podcast host - JUST THINKING…presented by MarketScale/ Gracelyn University Advisory Board Member/ Educate AI Board of Advisors
As I removed a particular ornament when dismantling the Christmas tree with my wife this afternoon, I became especially nostalgic. I clearly remember purchasing it with my daughter over twenty years ago. She was about three years old at the time. As she sat in the backseat of the car on our way to do some Christmas shopping, I asked her what she wanted to buy her mother for Christmas. She said, “I want to buy Mommy a red angel.”
I remember immediately thinking I wasn’t sure we would be able to find one, but at the time we were driving past a nearby Tuesday Morning store. Since I knew they sold some random items, we pulled into the parking lot and went inside to look. We were not there long when we found a porcelain-faced, small light bulb-holding, red-dress wearing angel ornament. My daughter’s face lit up when she saw it, and she excitedly accompanied me to the cashier to make the purchase.
Ever since that Christmas over twenty years ago, the red angel ornament has enjoyed a prominent placement on our tree. Obviously, much has happened and many changes have taken place over these past couple of decades. Although we moved to Dallas-Fort Worth from the Houston area just a couple of years after we made this special purchase, interestingly, our daughter now lives and teaches only several miles away from where we found this unique and thoughtful gift.
That red angel always reminds me of the meaningful moment I shared with my daughter all those years ago when we made this purchase together. I am equally reminded of future possibilities and the hope that this red angel represents. As I wrapped this special ornament in tissue paper and prepared to place it back in the ornament crate, I was struck by the powerfully positive thoughts and emotions this small material item had triggered.
I hope you all were able to take some time this holiday season to reflect on melancholy memories and to entertain possibilities of exciting experiences yet to come. Perhaps you have a “red angel” that has triggered such thoughts and emotions for you.
Admin. Assist at Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
8 年Ann, How was your holiday?.
Executive Administrative Assistant Northwest ISD Licensed Realtor at Fathom Realty
8 年That was beautiful Kevin. Thank you for sharing. Happy New Year to you and your precious family.
Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) with 806 Technologies/40 years Educator/Serving Educators/ Podcast host - JUST THINKING…presented by MarketScale/ Gracelyn University Advisory Board Member/ Educate AI Board of Advisors
8 年Rita, Sounds like you have developed some wonderful Christmas traditions. Thanks for sharing this. I'll bet your new grandson made this Christmas extra special!
RETIRED Educator / Trainer -Thinking Maps, Inc.
8 年Kevin, I have the same sort of memories when we put our tree up each year. My girls first ornaments were given by friends, family, and their dad and I. Once each daughter became an entity with her own likes, favorites, and interests, the ornament hunt, which included 1 or 2 for us parents, became a yearly tradition, that ended with 5 new ornaments each year. My three daughters are 18, 23, & 25. All of their ornaments are carefully packaged and, if not boxed, labeled with a description, and the year. Every year is a memory-fest, as I unpack, unwrap, and decorate my tree. This year we are blessed with a new grandson, a new family member, and lots of memories to pack and unpack each year.