How The Grinch Stole My Heart

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” ~~Dr. Seuss, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS 

 Macy's Thanksgiving parade started off the Christmas TV season for me when I was young (waaayyy before Cable, but definitely after Howdy Doody). There were a couple of things I always looked forward to: Miracle on 34th Street (the original of course) and an annual Christmas party with Mr. Peppermint. 

Mr. Peppermint was a local Dallas actor who had a children's morning show. He dressed in a red & white stripped suit, straw hat, and carried a red & white stripped cane. My grandmother took us to the Christmas party in downtown Dallas...he was normally the emcee who introduced Santa. One year, my sister and I walked to the front to receive our candy cane and I asked Mr. Peppermint if he knew how to catch a squirrel (I think I was 5). He laughed so hard he took me to the microphone and I told the audience. I have vivid memories of that night...one picture. 

Miracle on 34th Street -- no one needs a reason to watch Maureen O'Hara's heart start "believing" in Santa. And then there's How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I'm not really certain I really knew Dr. Suess before that. I probably did. My mother read to me all the time, took us to the library, I constantly had books checked out from school. But I didn't own many books. The Grinch just might be the first "bad boy" who gained a soft spot in the corner of my heart. 

Okay here's the story plug--.38 Caliber Cover-Up will be released electronically January 1st and on book shelves February 8th. My "bad boy" Erren Rhodes makes an important appearance in Hill Country Holdup before his "heart growing" story. But on with THIS blog... The big stinkin' Grinch stole my heart when I was young. I love how Boris Karloff narrated the TV special in 1966. I don't really think anyone can top that version. And do you know who sang the song? I can't make you wait (anyone can Google it): Thurl Ravenscroft. Don't know him? He's better known as the voice of Tony the Tiger in TV commercials. How does anyone sing that low?! Seeing the Grinch come to life... seeing his heart grow... Well, it changed the way I looked at "bad boys" forever. 

            Merry Christmas ~~ Angi 

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” ~~Dr. Seuss