‘Tis the season! While most of us will be keeping pace with the busiest time of the year, I wanted to take a moment to remind us all why it is we all work so hard to give our customers the best possible shopping experience. For that reason, members of the {rr} team have stepped forward to share their holiday stories — Memories of Holidays Past — that make up the fabric of what the holiday season really means. We invite you to take a moment to peruse these stories and re-acquaint yourself with the meaning of sharing, giving and relishing in all we for which we have to be thankful. We’d even love to hear and share your stories so if you want to join us in the holiday spirit, email your memories to us.

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David S., CEO

My favorite memory is watching old holiday movies with my mom and sister. We used to watch all the classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (the claymation with the abominable snowman), Frosty the Snowman, Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Bing Crosby’s White Christmas. We would always have a crackling fire, and when we weren’t watching movies, we had Bing Crosby LPs spinning on my mom’s old record player.

Kevin D., IT Operations

I come from a family of eight kids, of which I am the youngest. I grew up in house that was crazy during the holidays. But Christmas morning of all mornings was the calmest, for a bit. Dad and dom would go downstairs early and make sure everything was right, or as they said, make sure Santa got everything out. All the kids would line up on the stairs with the younger on the lower steps than the older ones. After about 15 minutes or so dad would call out that it was all ready and we’d run down—the rest of the morning was a blur.

We did this right up to middle school until I was 15 or so and my oldest sister would have been 24, even though Santa had moved on in our thoughts, the tradition kept up. I found out later that mom and dad cherished the time to sit by themselves in the living room with their coffee and newspaper – they used the time for quiet appreciation. Makes the memory even more special.

I look all the time at an old b/w photo my mom gave me about eight years ago – it shows six of the eight piled on the stairs, the older ones bored and tired heads on their hands, the younger ones ready to go. Makes me smile every time.

This photo shown is from 1958, my birth year; I was five months old. Back left is Nancy (with her new doll), then John, then Carole (with me on her lap), then my sister Mary (17 months old at that time), then Tim and me. (By age its Carole, John, Nancy, Tim, Mary, me—yep perfect alternation of M/F), I guess my mom is a beaver too, a list in correct order. About five years later we adopted my cousins when their parents died, making it eight.

Scott S., Sales

My favorite memory of Christmas was when I was 10 and I got the Red Ryder BB gun I had been wanting. Wait, no that was not me, that was Ralphie in A Christmas Story. My real favorite was just last year with both of my kids old enough for me to see the true excitement and wonder of it all through their eyes.

Zi K., Engineering

I once bough a flat screen TV for Xmas. I had it delivered to my office a few blocks to the house. I went through the trouble of sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night and cart massive box down the street at 3am on Xmas day to set it up and make it a surprise. Unfortunately, when people woke up and started opening presents, nobody noticed the new TV with a bow on it. What I learned is people like to unwrap things.

Pierce B., Global Business Development

My favorite memory is renting a house in Stinson Beach for a sunny Christmas week with family in from San Francisco, Oakland, Montana and Los Angeles.

Julie K., Office Operations

The year I turned 11, my mom was offered a tremendous opportunity to teach at an international private school in Seoul, Korea, and that was our first Christmas overseas. It became our tradition to use the season to travel throughout Asia; that year was Japan and Taiwan first, then the actual holiday in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is amazing anytime, but at Christmas: breathtaking. The lights! The sounds! The shopping! The boats and junks on the harbor, all lit up!

But when I think of that Christmas, I’ll always remember, buying Jordache jeans for $8 in Kowloon, staying in a hotel with key card locks for the first time ever (fancy!), plus the even fancier way you could automatically open & close the curtains by pressing a button on a console between the beds. Best of all, I will remember spending such a familiar holiday in such a magical and unfamiliar place, then sitting down with my mom for a 4-star Christmas Day dinner, and the most delicious Peking Duck I’ve ever had in my life!

(The next year was Singapore & Malaysia: there’s a good story from that year too!)

Janet K., Ad Sales

A few years ago, I was planning on flying out to see my family in Virginia for the holidays. Things were hectic since I still needed to pack for my cross-country flight and finish some last minute things for work before taking off for the east coast. In the middle of the chaos, unbeknownst to me, my boyfriend managed to drag in a huge Christmas tree into our front room and wrote out on the wall in holiday lights, “Will you marry me?”. He had changed into a suit, turned the holiday lights on and started playing our song “Love My Way” before calling me into the room and proposing! It was truly a surprise and a perfect moment that I’ll never forget!

Patrick M., Client Services

My favorite holiday memory came in 1995.

My cousins were visiting from the Philippines for the holidays. They have never been to the United States and were in complete awe of many things: the impressive architecture of the San Mateo Bridge (the bridges in the Philippines are 15 feet long), the cleanliness of the city streets, and the orderliness of traffic. One of my cousins, Jeffrey, relayed to me that he had thought the United States to be “too good to be true”. Not happy with his distaste for the motherland, I simply told him things were not as they seem and everything is regulated. When he asked me what I meant, I slyly smiled and said, “Don’t worry. You’ll know soon enough. But I can’t talk right now, they’re listening.”

Later that night from a long flight Jeff wanted to use one the guest bathrooms to shower. The guest shower is a bit of an enigma: whereas where one usually pulls a lever on top of the waterspout to turn on the shower, the lever for the guest bathroom is missing. To turn on the shower one must pull down on a cleverly disguised ring. Perplexed and out of wit, Jeff asked me how to turn on the shower.

Needless to say, I took advantage. The conversation was thus:

“Patrick, I can’t turn on the shower.”

“What did I tell you? Everything is regulated? You have to call 411. You call 411 and water information will ask you what city you are in. You tell them ‘Union City’ and they will use that as well as a telephone trace to find where you are. Then they’ll turn on the water.”

“What do I do?”

“Call 411. Say Union City when they ask what city. Then when they say “Go ahead,” you say ‘I want to take a shower.’”

So Jeff dials 411 and we hear the operator answer, “411. What city please?”

Sheepishly, Jeff answers “Union City,” while looking at me uncertainly.

“Go Ahead.”

He musters up his courage and stammers “I… want to… take a shower.”

The operator could not have answered in a better way.

“Go ahead.” Click.

Diane K., Marketing

My favorite holiday memory has to do with the annual Christmas pageants that my school, St. Phillip Neri, hosted every year. These were regaled by our entire parish with friends and family attending as it was the way to really get into the seasonal spirit. Because so much emphasis was put on the attendance of these programs, there was a lot of rehearsal that took place to make sure the program came off without a hitch. In 7th grade I was honored to be named the emcee/host of the Christmas Pageant and so I was put through the paces of all the rehearsals but this was directly with our Principal, Sister Laura Marie. Already intimidating as the head nun in our parish, she was also tyrannical about pronunciation and anyone who knows me knows I have a slight lisp. So imagine the rigors (and tremors) I/we went through in preparing my script for this occasion. She was so emphatic about pronunciation that even the word “the” was an issue because I apparently wasn’t saying it correctly. “The. The. The. THE.” is all I can recall from that particular pageant prep and while I recall the evening came off without a hitch, and I think I said the word “The” alright, it’s the one memory I take with me when I think of grade school, holiday pageants and Sister Laura Marie. THE end. Happy Holidays everyone!

Scott C., Engineering

When I was five, I really wanted a bike for Christmas. What I didn’t know, was that my parents were going through tough financial times, and had missed a house payment and could barely feed my brother and I.
They could not afford to buy a bike. My dad, after some advice from my grandfather, built me one from scratch assembling parts from a junk yard, putting many hours of work to clean it up and customize it. I remember the bike in detail to this day. Blue paint with some red trim, squishy handgrips and a unique back rear tire with a square profile and no tread (I later learned it was a specific kind of racing tire). I was so excited to see it and ride it, sure that Santa’s elves made it custom just for me.

All the kids in the neighborhood asked about it. What type of bike was it? It had no brand name, Santa made it. Where did I get that cool tire? Santa. Can I try riding it? No.

That bike meant more to me and my dad than anything money could buy. To me back then, it was the coolest bike on the block. Now, it is a symbol of the value of a truly thoughtful gesture and a lot of hard work — a gift means so much more when it carries meaning beyond the item itself and the money spent procuring it. For my dad, it is a symbol of both love for his children and his pride in overcoming obstacles in life.

Gianni L., Marketing

Holiday memories are all about the eating memories for me. My earliest memory was eating the reindeer cookie ornaments off the Christmas tree that my mom had baked and sprayed with glossy shellac. They must not have been too toxic because I have celebrated many holidays since, but then again it could explain a lot….

Brad C., Consumer Innovation

Christmas morning, 1978, I was 5 years old. I woke up before my sister and parents and decided to unwrap a couple gifts. Not just my gifts and not just a couple – I unwrapped everyone’s. Let me tell you, whoever said it’s better to give than receive was seriously deluded!

That year I received an awesome adult-sized kaftan, a Milky the Marvelous Milking Cow, blue roller skates, a child bicycle seat, a make-up set, a metallic blue motorcycle helmet customized with my sister’s name, cordless hedge clippers, an Amana microwave, a bunny-shaped cake pan, Jordache jeans, three stockings full of candy, a “learn to disco” record set, and Spider-Man Underoos.

But the best gift of all was that rather than going to the yearly extended-family-drunken-dinner-and-brawl extravaganza, my parents deciding we’d stay home that day, all day.

So, that Christmas morning, we dressed in our warm, hand-made kaftans and roller-skated around the family room while my parents learned to dance disco. Apples baked in the microwave. Our dogs chased us around, barking. I made milk from Milky the Cow. And A fire may or may not have been blazing in the fireplace. I’d like to think that it was.

It was a perfect Christmas Day.

Dan E., Sales

One of my favorite memories of Christmas was several years back. Growing up my grandparents had 2 really close friends from Norway, Edna and Ewald. They were so happy together and Christmas time was always special to them. We would all gather at their house on Christmas day and sing Norwegian holiday songs, eat traditional foods and tell stories.

Time passed and Edna, Ewald’s wife passed away one summer. It was pretty tough on Ewald as they had been married for 58 years. So on the Christmas following Edna’s death, Ewald came over to our house on Christmas. He sang songs just like every year, had one too many martinis and had a great although pretty emotional time during his first holiday season without Edna. It was a special night, he was in rare form. At the end of the last song on the piano, he said, “Edna my love, don’t worry, I will see you soon my dear.”

The following March, Ewald passed away and was once again reunited with Edna. So, around this time of year I am always reminded of that Christmas and the loving Norwegian couple. It gives me reason to tell the people I love the most and don’t get the chance to see as often as I would like, “Don’t worry, I will see you soon.”

Trish C., Sales

My favorite memory was watching my mom set up the manger in the front yard. Yup. We were that family with all the plastic replicas of baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, a few shepherds, and some barn animals.  My mom would pull out the hay and my sisters and brother and I would get on our knees and pat it down and place Mary and Joseph next to each other, baby Jesus swaddled between them. Then we’d plant a few spot lights in the grass so that it could be seen by us and our neighbors at night. And every evening after dinner,  for about two weeks before Christmas, I would throw my coat over my pajamas and go sit with the shepherds and donkey and lamb, and stare at baby Jesus. I remember the air was so still, and chilled, but the spotlights kept me warm. I felt so safe and peaceful. I would look up and see the stars twinkle and think to myself that this must be what Bethlehem was like.

Marty K., Sales

My mother was a high school teacher and my father was working his way through graduate school with two part time jobs, money was always tight back then. We have a tradition in my family where we give one gift to the poor each year from beneath the tree. One of my father’s part time jobs was at Sears and he saved to buy me my first bicycle. It was red with a white banana seat and it was fantastic. I’m not sure why I did it, I was so young, but I gave the bicycle t the poor and I don’t think I’ve ever made my father prouder (and I am sure he was explosive with language and angst behind the scenes). I think the spirit of the holiday was something I embraced as a five year old … naturally, I grew older and went into ad sales ….

Penny D., Human Resources

One of the best holidays for me ever was about 15 years ago.  It was a very small group, just me and my husband, my mom and stepfather.  We spent a week in the snow in a Lake Tahoe cabin and brought everything important to a holiday celebration up with us in the car: the dogs, a tree (complete with lights and decorations), all the makings for a full on turkey dinner, gifts, games, and plenty of beverages.  It was a beautiful white Christmas and New Years for a California girl who had never had one.  I will always remember it!

Paul D., Ad Operations

Although I am Irish and Italian, both of my grandmothers were Italian, so that was the food that dominated the holidays of my childhood.  One of my favorite holiday traditions is Christmas Eve and the feast of 7 Fish.  This is part of old Sicilian lore and Catholic tradition, where much like Fridays during lent, no meat is served on Christmas Eve.  A traditional menu would include dishes like Baccala (dried cod), Calamari, Shrimp Scampi, Cherrystones, Salmon, Whitefish, Mussels and/or Oysters…and while many of the dishes have evolved over the years, to this day – Christmas Eve features a seafood only meal, filled with wine, music and extended family from near and far.

Mark M., Sales

One really neat memory I have from Christmas past is when my parents would carry me along with them when they would go Christmas caroling in the neighborhood with their church group.  The memory of the happy look on people’s faces when they opened the door, made quite an impression.  Another memory I have is more on the mischievous side…. one year I decided to make it my mission to look for and find the secret hiding place where my parents had stashed all our gifts, Mom was not happy.  Lastly, I used to love Christmas dinners at my Aunt Anita’s house.  She had this really long table where everyone would sit together for Christmas dinner…. and on this one occasion I went into the dining room, making my way around the table, picking out all the black olives from each of the salads.  I wasn’t the most popular kid at dinner.

Mike F., Sales

My favorite memory of Xmas and perhaps one of my earliest memories, was when I was 3 years old living in Albany, NY.  My father thought it would be fun to walk out into the woods and find the perfect Xmas tree – easier said than done (especially since we had just moved to Albany from NYC).  The day we decided to take on this mission it snowed (adding more holiday spirit of course), and it continued to snow heavily all day.  As we ventured out in hunt of our tree it became more difficult for this 3 year old to walk, and walking we did!  You see unbeknownst to my dad (Mr. NYC), Xmas trees don’t grow in the wild, at least not the kind you want proudly displayed in your living room.  So we walked and I cried and eventually I found myself on his shoulders eating snowflakes – happy to be above the 10 inches of snow I was swimming in!  He eventually found “a” tree – and from my mother’s recollection it was anything BUT a Xmas tree, but he cut it down anyway.  Being a father of 2 young girls, only now can I truly appreciate his intentions – creating a memory and a tradition.  The memory part took, the tradition part? not-so-much, the following year he bought a tree at the local gas station.

Soyeb B., IT Operations

Although we don’t celebrate Christmas at home but I too have a story to share which is nothing less than a Christmas miracle for me and it was around the same time. I went to a convent school and in order to not get up early in morning to offer Namaz, I used to offer my prayers at the school church before heading to class. It was my way of keeping my mom happy and God surely.

It was my final year in high school and we had our farewell party along with the Christmas party for the year. I had actively participated in the planning of the party with my friends and teachers. Was so excited about the whole event until the time everyone started discussing about the dress code. We all were supposed to show up in suits, I had none. We were not doing that great financially, my father had been out of work for quite some time and we were thinking of moving to another city. I knew I could not ask my parents for getting me a suit, so had secretly planned that I will dress up and leave home but not go to the party since I would be the only kid around not dressed for the occasion. I spent the evening before the party making preparations and went back home knowing I will not show up the next day. That evening, one of my neighbors comes across to talk to mom and my mom mentioned about my farewell party. Out of nowhere she offers me a suit to try that she had ordered for her son but it was not a good fit for him. I tried it out, the blazer fitted perfectly and my mom did some stitch work that night to be able to fit into the pants (just to be clear…. I was thin back then and she was trying to tighten the pants). I still could hardly sleep that night since now I was looking forward to all the fun I was going to have at the party. I told my parents about my escape plan after the party and I cannot put it into words how proud and happy they were and how happy I was.

It was borrowed; someone else’s and I had to return it the next day, but somebody up there wanted me to go to the party. I have only had few miracles happen for me this was the first one and will always be dear to me.

Kimball K., Sales

As the youngest of 4 with a 9-year span between myself and my next oldest sibling [otherwise known as 'an accident'], Christmas was WAY more exciting for me than my older brothers and sister.  That being the case, I remember several Christmas mornings when I would awaken between 3-4 a.m., trying to awaken everyone to dive into opening gifts in the middle of the night. I, of course had no idea my parents were likely awake wrapping gifts, setting up/ assembling toys and bicycles and filling stockings until the wee hours of Xmas morning [isn't that in the elves' job descriptions?].  I could typically wear them down enough to allow me to take my stocking off of the fireplace mantel and take it back to my bedroom with the condition I don’t get up again before 6-7 a.m..  To this day, my brothers and sisters take revenge by letting [encouraging?] their kids wake me up at the crack of dawn [if not earlier] whenever we’re on family vacations.  Payback.

Carolyn D., Ad Operations

While it’s difficult to pinpoint a specific Christmas memory, being from a large Irish family, I have to say it was always SO much fun spending time with all my aunts, uncles and cousins.  Opening tons of presents and working myself into a frenzy trying to play with my new toys, trying on clothes and just a ton of kids running around on a sugar buzz!  However busy our lives have become today we still carry on the same traditions and enjoy getting together for Christmas dinner every year, and now the baton has been passed to my nieces and nephews in whom I can relive my childhood Christmases.