Where'd it all go?
Is Mark Dayton the Grinch who Stole Christmas and the grand Christmas traditions from the people of Minnesota? Both by closing his families Dayton's department store, the hearth of the Minneapolis Christmas season, a place as a kid we were given the day off of school and despite the -20 degree temperatures bussed down to Downtown Daytons and we were quickly warmed up and forgot about the cold for the entire day as we walked past all the glamourous clothing displays, the glass jewelry and cosmetics counters on the marble floors, through the 8th floor Christmas displays full of lights, and animated action figures. It was an absolutely breathtaking experience, done to the nines full glamour, with kind people giving you Christmas cookies, with plays to watch, Santa Bear's every where, where dinner was served in a fancy restaurant, full of glitz and glamour. A place you were sad to leave and made a point to return to. Every year a different theme, with new Santa Bear's-Charlie Brown, The Grinch, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, just a few of the theme's celebrated each year there, each one with completely new and different displays and plays. A tradition now lost in it's entirety. My Mom has now passed, making Christmas an entirely different tradition altogether, but our city has also died in a similiar fashion around the holidays, Christmas season no longer recognizable when Menard's had a far better Christmas display this holiday season then the Macy's (who Dayton's was sold out to) tiny little display in the basment corner, that maybe took up ten square feet at best and had 3 Christmas trees with ornaments for sale, the trees were not for sale. With it's customer service who does not care if your Christmas gifts arrive on time or understand why January is not a good time for your Christmas tree to be deliverd because it is on back order. Mrs. Claus was no where to be found serving Christmas cookies and there was no taking your kids picture with Santa at the department store with the epic display. Despite alleged "global warming" Minneapolis has grown much colder...XOXO
Comments