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"Because it's the most special night on earth"
“A couple of years ago I received an unexpected package. We had grown up on a farm in the Midwest and Mom worked part-time as the ‘alteration’s lady’ in the only fine men’s wear store in town -- she tailored fine fabrics, mostly men’s suits. (Years later we teased that she was the only woman who knew the rise on every man’s trousers in church – always got more of a grin from Dad than Mom!) Every October the process started for me and my sister. 'Can you please stand up straight?' Endless series of fittings as Mom’s vision for that year’s Christmas dresses took shape from her bag of fabrics, trims, tissue paper patterns, chalk and pins. We’re hot; we squirmed, we sighed, made faces and howled when a stickpin got us. ‘Why do we have to do all of this again?’ Same answer.
'Because it’s the most special night on earth.'
Mom was right. As Dad bundled us in the car, honked the horn to prompt Mom we’d be late – we were special - it was so special, in fact, we couldn’t even talk. I remember thinking that same hushed silence had to be everywhere in the world at that exact same moment for everyone. (Maybe it was?)
She had sent three of my dresses in the package, the smallest when I was maybe four. Each a completely different and unique work of love. Feeling the textures, I was embarrassed that all of those years I didn’t really see how much she invested in the process, the intricate detail, the satin lining, the piping, the sparkle, and her exacting hand construction. And it had the same effect -- I couldn’t talk.”
Symbols, gifts and traditions of holidays seem to have impact beyond measure. In keeping with this tradition, G.W. Little has selected a unique one of a kind design handmade by Susan Lanci for “the dress” of the season… for your most special one.
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