The True Story of the Christmas Ladder
When my daughter was three, my wife and I put up our very first family Christmas tree. A week later, on Christmas Eve, she had a severe asthma episode and in the middle of the night we realized it was an allergy to the tree. (Turns out an invisible mold grows naturally on any cut tree.) We hastily took off the ornaments and shuffled the tree out the front door.
On Christmas morning we woke to a pile of ornaments and lights on the floor where the Christmas tree had stood the night before. There weren’t many options. Then it hit me. There was an old step ladder in the hall closet. We dragged it out, wrapped it with lights and placed ornaments on all the steps. A Christmas Ladder. Shiny and silvery and a perfect complement to the white lights and bright decorations that adorned it.
That was nine years ago. We’ve had a Christmas Ladder ever since. It’s functional, beautiful, easy, and in this day and age, it’s incredibly green and environmentally correct. Everyone should have one.
(Note: Since our original Christmas Ladder, we have wisely learned that if you use an aluminum ladder DON’T drape it with lights. Aluminum conducts electricity. Use projected lights or tinsel instead. If you want traditional lights, you’re better off with a wooden or fiberglass ladder.)
Comments
One Response to “The True Story of the Christmas Ladder”
Leave a Reply
Edward,
A beautiful idea. Classic reinterpretation of an existing icon. Or as many of our mentors have described great ads, "I hadn’t thought of it (i.e. the ladder) that way before."
I wish you the strength and patience to see this idea to its conclusion, in whatever form that takes.
Tim