It’s Christmas 1982. I pull the midnight to 6am overnight shift Xmas eve to Xmas morning on WRUN AM. It’s minus 18 degrees in Utica. I’m 21 and a college senior working for $3.35 a hour.
Phone call comes in at 1:30 am. Two families loaded Xmas gifts for their young kids and went inside to warm up leaving the car running and the heat on.
Someone stole the car.
One of the dads called every radio station. If the thief had radio on, we appealed to them to keep the car and call in where the presents were. It was a minor national story the next day..the Grinch who stole Christmas. I was interviewed on the RKO radio network the next day.
The car was found three days later. Every gift was opened. Some were missing. All I could think of was the kids who woke up to no Christmas presents. Those kids are in their 40s or early 50s now. I wonder how that incident has impacted their lives and this holiday since.
For the thieves, it’s easy to wish ill on them and their own families but instead I hope they atone for what they did every season.
This holiday season should be a time of joy, family and friends. It will mark the first time my Christmas Eve table won’t be graced by dear friends Paula Brici and husband Paul Gardner. Paula was my PR agency business partner. We worked together nearly 20 years. Paul was a talented artist based in Laguna Beach; he taught art classes in Irvíne and his work is on display at Irvine City Hall January 11. We lost both of them in the last six months. Their absence will be obvious, but they occupy places in my heart this holiday that I welcome.
As you gather tonight and tomorrow, do enjoy the company of friends and family. Take those photos, tell those stories, eat that great food and enjoy that sweet wine. For those who are never coming back to your table, your gift from them is more memories than you can count.
Merry Christmas