Holiday Favorites: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

I have a confession to make. I love Christmas. I always have and I always will. It was a special time when I was young, full of love, laughter, and family. At this time of year, the little boy inside me fights his way past the gruff, shaven-headed, goateed, middle-aged man and takes over for a few weeks.

I love seeing my grandchildren, wide eyed and smiling at the Christmas displays — the bright lights, the trees, Santa Claus and his elves, and reindeer. They love the story of a very special reindeer, the one who led Santa’s sleigh and saved Christmas during the Big Storm, the misfit who turned out to be the most important one of all despite his odd red nose — Rudolph!

The Rankin-Bass classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is my favorite Christmas program. I suppose there is a bit of the misfit in all of us. We’ve all been teased and picked on at one time or another. We’ve all had dreams, some came true, some didn’t, but we had them. There was always someone who scoffed at us for dreaming at all. I emphasized with Rudolph as a boy, and I loved it when he said he was “independent.” I felt much the same, but I was too young to put it into words.

I remember running around my mother's kitchen pretending to throw my pick in the air as I screamed “silver, gold,” only to pick it up, give it a lick, and pronounce I had “nothin'.” I was Yukon Cornelius, and my mother would laugh and tell me to keep trying. Someday, I’d find my gold or silver if I didn’t give up. She was right, I did. My family is my treasure, and in them I’ve found all the gold and silver of my young heart's desire.

I loved Yukon, the big, gruff, but loving man. The loyal friend with the mismatched team of sled dogs always made me laugh. He was a bit loud for most people, but he was someone you could depend on. I’ve known a few Yukons in my life, guys who always seemed to have a plan, no matter how doomed to failure it was, who never gave up, and were always there for a friend.

Article Author: Donnie Marler

Donnie Marler hails from southern Missouri. A lover of Harley's, pool games in smoky bars, cold beer with good friends, and his kids and grandchildren. He's a free spirit that lives for the wind in his face, love, laughter, and the road less traveled. …

Visit Donnie Marler's author page — Donnie Marler's Blog