Racke 1

MorganRacke
UWRIT1101
Instructor:FranVoltz
7October2015
DancingwiththeTrees
Theairwasbriskandduskwasbeginningtofalloverthesky.Mymomcalledupthe
stairsformetocomedownandgetmyjacket.Itwillbeverycoldtonight,shesaidtome.She
handedmemyjacket,mittens,ahat,andascarftobringouttothecarandgrabbedajacketand
hatforherself.Sean,weareleavinginfiveminutesshecalledupthestairstomydad.
Together,mymomandIwalkedouttothecarandloadedourjacketsinthebackofthevan.We
thenwalkedovertothetimesharenextdoorwheremygrandma,Papa,AuntLucy,UncleKyle,
andUncleJeffwerestaying.Mygrandmawasskippingaroundthedownstairswithexcitement.
Areyoureadyfortonight?sheaskedme.Igrinnedandreplied,YesIamsoexcited!
Onceeveryonewasready,mygrandma,Papa,Mom,Dad,AuntLucy,UncleKyle,and
UncleJeff loaded into the car to head towards Tlaquepaque. We had a very special night planned
that was filled with family traditions. I was seven years old, and we had been coming to Sedona,
Arizona for Thanksgiving every year for the past four years. The drive was quick and only took
about fifteen minutes. The longest part was probably trying to find a parking spot in the already
very full lot. Once we parked, we voted on leaving all of our warm clothes in the car so we did
not have to carry them into the restaurant.
Our family had a tradition of going to see the lights in Los Abrigados, but the night
always started with eating at Joeys, a restaurant located there. We had made a reservation so the
wait to sit down was not long. The hostess brought us down a ramp to a table in the back of the
restaurant where we sat down. I was seated next to my grandma. When our waitress came to take

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our drink orders, my grandma asked her, Could we get some Wiki-sticks? Wiki- sticks were
basically colorful wax sticks that were flexible and could easily be bent and shaped to create cool
pictures. Inside the little bag they gave out were also different animals on paper that you could
put the Wiki-sticks over to create a more tangible model. The waitress came back with them and
took our order. Though the wait seemed long for little seven-year old me, my grandma and I
were fully entertained playing with the Wiki-sticks. I started with using the animal cartoons as a
guide and eventually began to create my own designs.
Before I knew it, our food came out. My favorite part of eating at Joeys besides the
Wiki-sticks is the soup. Almost everyone in my family orders it. Though the French onion soup
is good, the very best part is how it is served. Each bowl comes served on a plate with a pair of
colorful plastic scissors. It is the most genius way to serve the soup because the thick layer of
cheese on the top is difficult to eat. My family sat around the table joking and eating our food.
When we finished eating, we walked back to the car to get our jackets and bundle up in
all the warm clothes we had brought. My mom dressed me in my light blue jacket, dark blue
fuzzy scarf, and matching red mittens and a red hat. Though the night was very frigid, I was very
warm in all of my layers. I stood beside the car as all of the rest of my family put on the warm
clothes they had for the night. Once we were all bundled up, we walked to the front entrance of
the lights.
Outside of the entrance was a light display in a circle that resembled a carousel. The
lights flashed and gave the appearance of reindeer running around in a circle. My eyes glazed
over as I watched it in awe. My mom called out to me to come over where we stood in a short
line to enter. In Los Abrigados, there are many apartments where people create elaborate
Christmas light displays. In total, there are usually about twenty to thirty unique displays that

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you can walk around and see. You are also given a card where you can vote on your favorite
displays.
My favorite display was the one inspired from The Little Mermaid, my favorite movie.
The display boasted of tons of blue lights that gleamed and resembled water. King Triton was
sitting in a throne looking down upon Ariel who appeared to be swimming with Flounder. Prince
Eric was in a large ship sailing with his crew. I stood in udder awe and amazement at the scene
before me. Ariel was my favorite princess, and I wanted to be just like her. After standing there
for a while, my mom tugged on my hand and told me it was time to move on to the next display.
Whenwereachedtheendofthelights,wewalkeddownapathtogototheplacewhere
mygrandmaandIlookforwardtomost.Thetreestoweredaboveusandwerecoveredin
twinklingcoloredlights.ThelightschangedcolorsandpatternsintunewiththeChristmasmusic
thatplayedthroughthespeakersinthetrees.Mygrandmagrabbedmyhandandweranintothe
woodedareasamongstthelightedtrees.Shegrabbedmyhandswrappedinwarmredmittensand
begantospinmearoundaswedancedtosongaftersong.Mymomanddadjoinedin,too,
dancingwithoneanother.Eventuallymyuncles,aunt,andpapajoinedin,andwealldanced
togetherasafamily.
Whenourcheekswereallrosyandwewereallwornoutfordancing,wewalkedalittle
furthertogogethotciderandhotchocolateatthestanddownthepath.Whilewesippedonour
drinks,wewaitedtostandinlinetoseeSanta.Thelinewaslongandwoundthroughawhitetent
thatwasdecoratedwithgarlandsforChristmas.Whenwefinallyreachedthefrontoftheline,I
staredwithexcitementatSantainfrontofme.Hecalledmeoverandasked,Whatwouldyou
likeforChristmas?Withoutmissingabeat,Iresponded,WhatwouldyoulikeforChristmas?

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Helookedatmymomandshesmiled.Mygrandmapulledoutacameraandsnappedapictureof
mesittingonSantaslap.
OnceweleftthetentSantawasin,webegantomeanderourwayout.Theskywasdark
now,anditwasveryfrigidoutside.Mymomwalkedwithherarmaroundme,pullingmein
closetokeepmewarm.IsmiledasIwatchedmywholefamilysmilingandlaughingtogether.
ThisisanightIwillneverforgetIsaidoutloudtomyfamily.Metoomygrandmaagreed.
Whenwegotbacktothecar,Iclimbedintothebackseatofthevanintomycarseat.Mymom
climbedinnexttomeandthoughtheridewasshort,Idozedoffexhaustedfromthelongand
eventfulnight.Whenwegotback,mydadpickedmeupandcarriedmeofftobed.Itwasagood
night.
LastNovember,myfamilyallreturnedtoSedona,ArizonaforThanksgivingforthevery
firsttimesinceIwassevenyearsold.Whenwegotthere,mygrandmainformedmetheRed
RockFantasyChristmasLightsinLosAbrigadoswasnolongergoingon.Apparently,the
fundingtheresorthadwasdwindlingandtheycouldnolongeraffordtohostthiseventevery
Christmas.MybrotherwouldnevergetthechancetoseeallthemagnificentChristmasdisplays
Ihadgrownupwith.WedecidedtogotoLosAbrigadosanywaytogetdinnerlikeourusual
tradition.Whenwesatdown,weallorderedthesamesouplikewehadoncebeforeseveral
yearsago.Whenthewaitresscameout,shehandedusbowlsonaplatewithaspoon.Whenwe
askedwherethescissorswereshewasveryconfused.Sheresponded,Ihaveworkedhereeight
monthsandneverseenanyplasticscissorsservedwiththesoup.Shewenttothekitcheninthe
backtocheckandcamebackandinformedustheynolongerdothat.

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Whenwefinishedeating,Irequestedtomakeatriptoseethelightsinthetreeand
dance.Wewalkedtogetherinthecoldandveryunfestivenight.Whenwereachedwherethey
were,wediscoveredthetreestherehadbeencutdown.Insteadofamagnificentarrayof
brightlycoloredlightsdancinginthenightintunetothemusic,therewasaminigolfcourse.I
stoodandstaredatthesightwithimmensedisappointment.Ifeltlikemychildhoodwasgone.
Mygrandmalookedoveratmeandsmiledasanideapoppedintoherhead.Shebegantosing
JingleBellsandgrabbedmyhandsspinningmearound.Ismiledandjoinedinaswedanced
together.Soonenough,mywholefamilyjoinedinaswedancedtogether.Itwasnotthesame,
butmaybethatwasokay.