LETTER: A plea for an early Christmas miracle in Kalispell

I am the proud mother of a U.S. Army soldier. Soon my son will be deployed to an un-friendly part of the world. Before he goes, he will be home for two weeks for Thanksgiving and our family is going to make the most of it! We have some big plans to celebrate, even if just in small ways, some important holidays and birthdays he will miss while deployed. The entire plan is coming together nicely except for one thing I could use A LOT of help with… Christmas lights!

Our family is very close and our family traditions are everyone’s favorite part of the season. Every year we have always had one night where we made hot chocolate and drove around to see all the Christmas lights. Sharing those magical moments together is priceless! In recent years our family has grown large enough that, we almost fill the Christmas trolley in Kalispell.

We have been able to arrange for part of this family favorite tradition while Michael is home. The Montana Trolley Co. is all set to drive our family around for an hour the Saturday night after Thanksgiving, they are even kind enough to decorate the trolley and play Christmas music for us.

Now my plea for an early Christmas miracle… to all the Kalispell “Christmas elves” who put up the wonderful lights every year on their homes, will you please put your lights up early for a local boy turned U.S. Army soldier? Please help us give Michael an awesome Christmas memory to carry with him while he serves our country. —Barbara Lynn Anderson, Kalispell