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The quest for the Glass Pickle and a Maine adventure at Renys
By Allen Wicken
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
...A fun Christmas tradition suggestion
Among my warmest memories of parenthood is sitting on the couch with a book in my lap and our 3- and 5- year-old sons snuggled tightly
against each of my arms. Reading favorite books to one's kids is a parental pleasure almost beyond description.
And atop our sons' favorite books list were those by Dr. Suess and Richard Scarry. You all know many of Dr. Suess'
books and their curious characters, but you may not know about the works of Richard Scarry. He is among the finest
authors and illustrators of children's books of all time. That was certainly the case back in the late '70s and I
suspect that many children of that era are now reading his books to their kids.
Without question, sons Gregg and Chris' favorite Richard Scarry book was "Postman Pig and His Busy Neighbors." The reason: hidden
pickles on every page! As I read, and the boys followed along looking at the multi-faceted pictures accompanying the words...there was
the intense anticipation of the turning of the page... because short-term bragging rights went to which one of them spotted the small
hidden pickle on each page, hidden among the interesting illustrations. I can still hear little brother Chris slapping the page with
extended index finger and gleefully shouting "PICK-OHHH" at the top of his lungs.
Fast forward a few years to when our boys were in high school...a point in time when reading that Richard Scarry book together
had became just a distant, albeit fond, memory. My wife Judy was doing some pre-holiday shopping in the nearby Old Port area in
Portland. There was at that time a small Christmas shop below street level on the corner of Exchange and Middle Streets. As she
browsed through the tree ornament section, a strange glass "pickle" ornament caught her eye. It was accompanied by a short history
of the role of that ornament in German Christmas tradition.
The small attached paper stated that the pickle ornament was always hung on the tree on Christmas Eve after the children went to bed.
The more obscure the location the better. In the morning, before presents were opened, the kids were only allowed to approach the tree
with their eyes closed. When the signal was given, a furious search ensued to see who could be first to find the pickle. A special small
gift was then awarded to the victorious pickle-finder.
Of course, her first thought was: "What a great way for our family to continue the enjoyable hidden-pickle-onthe pages-quest of years past."
I explained the rules to our boys that Christmas morning...and the first of many annual pickle hunts ensued. A small gag gift went to the
victor; however the real prize for these competitive brothers has been the bragging rights" good for the following 365 days.
The four of us have been together for Christmas morning every year now since 1976. The boys are now in their mid-thirties. The fun, yet
competitive pickle quest was the first order of business, again, last Christmas, here in our cozy cabin on Gull Pond for about the 20th year in a row.
That mark of consistency will change this year. Both are now living in Colorado. Gregg the industrial designer is now collaborating
full-time with his younger brother, designing new products for Chris' growing promotions business. Additionally, the challenges of
traveling with our year-old grandson, Cooper Allen, made a Christmas in the foothills of the Rockies this year a prudent, if not
reluctant, choice. It will be a much less raucous Christmas morning here on the pond...and a few family traditions were seen to be
in danger of interruption. The pickle-quest was near the top of our Endangered Traditions List.
Fast forward to a week ago. My very careful shopper-extraordinaire wife returned from Farmington with, among other items from the
town's beloved Renys department store, a glass pickle ornament! When asked how she found such a rare item at Renys, she replied with
something on the order of..."that's the adventure of digging a bit deeper at Renys" you never know what you will find...
At this writing, the pickle is being wrapped carefully for inclusion in our mailing of gifts bound for Colorado. It will
be marked to be opened on Christmas Eve. I have no doubt that a very competitive 10-30 seconds will ensue on Christmas morning
in a home on the side of a ridge...just a few miles southwest of Denver.
Bottom Line: I suggest that you consider starting the "pickle-quest" tradition in your home this Christmas morning, especially
if your gathered family includes two or more kids. And don't be dismayed if your Maine Adventure at Renys this week does not
turn up a pickle ornament. I have found that when one Googles "glass pickle ornament" dozens of internet sites will surface,
all happy to ship one your way in time for Christmas morning. Be sure to take good care of the pickle, since you will not be
allowed to omit the hunt for many Christmas mornings to come!
"We need to write, otherwise nobody will know who we are," Garrison Keillor.
Excerpt From: The Original Irregular, December 2010
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R.H. Reny, Inc.
731 Route 1
Newcastle, Maine 04553
Phone: (207)563-3177
Fax: (207)563-5681
E-Mail: feedback@renys.com
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