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Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
The #WolffWay
W- Work ethic
O- Off time
L- Lead with integrity
F- Find your passion
F- Find a way
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street was released in December of 1978 when I was about 9 weeks old. Little did I know that we would grow older and wiser together.
The holiday special was well ahead of it's time in teaching meaningful life lessons, and I'm so thankful my parents introduced me to it at an early age. It has been my favorite Christmas special for a long time. It still is.
The special opens up with the Sesame Street characters and others ice skating. Bert, Ernie, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster and The Count (my favorite ha, ha, ha!) are all in attendance. Within the opening scene, a little girl helps Big Bird learn to ice skate to the Jośe Feliciano's classic "Feliz Navidad". It shows kindness. Love it.
As we continue through Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, there are a number of scenes with different characters, adults, and kids. It is quite evident that Sesame Street is a welcoming neighborhood. There is an extremely diverse representation of people from different backgrounds. There is sign language used between adults and children singing a song. It is wonderful to see.
My favorite part is between Bert and Ernie. Ernie goes to see Mr. Hooper at his store. He brings his favorite thing in the world, Rubber Duckie. He explains to Mr. Hooper that he doesn't have any money but wants to trade his prized Rubber Duckie for an empty cigar box for Bert to store his paperclip collection. Mr. Hooper agrees to the trade.
After the transaction is completed and on his way out of the store, Ernie bumps into Bert. Once Ernie leaves the store, Bert approaches Mr. Hooper to trade in his favorite paperclip collection for a soap dish for Ernie's Rubber Duckie. Mr. Hooper agrees to the trade.
As the film continues, we eventually get to Bert and Ernie opening up their gifts. Ernie gives Bert a cigar box for his paperclip collection. Bert gives Ernie a soap dish for his Rubber Duckie. Problem is, they don't have their favorite things because they traded them into Mr. Hooper.
Mr. Hooper shows up just in the nick of time to give Bert and Ernie his gifts to them. Bert opens up his gift which is his paperclip collection. Ernie opens up his gift which is his Rubber Duckie. Mr. Hooper makes sure that everyone got what they needed for Christmas.
Both Bert and Ernie traded in their favorite things in the world to Mr. Hooper for Christmas gifts for their best friend. It wasn't easy for them. In fact, they are sad about it but they did it anyway. They put others before themselves. Great life lesson about living with integrity.
Whatever holiday it is you celebrate, consider giving for others. Work toward making sure everyone gets what they need and maybe a little of what they want.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Festivus for the Rest of Us or whatever it is you may celebrate.
Special shout out to the good people of Outreach-Center for Community Resources located in Scranton, PA for their Adopt an Angel program. The hard work of this organization help people get what they need. It is truly impressive.
