Lauren’s Law: May Your Christmas Be “BIG” This Year

Reflecting On A Beloved Family Tradition

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Since moving back to Severna Park a few years ago, there has been one childhood memory that I’ve especially loved reliving with my family: picking out a Christmas tree at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company.

I can still envision the giant, blown up Frosty as my siblings, dad and I pulled into the parking lot in the ‘90s. Later, my sister and I would play tag among the trees after dusk before our family decided upon “the” tree. I can almost see my breath in the fresh, cold air and taste the delicious, tiny candy canes.

What I remember most, though, are the kind salespeople who traveled from North Carolina. One salesman with a thick southern accent said one of my family’s all-time favorite catchphrases: “Y’all have a BIG Christmas.” Not a Christmas season goes by where someone doesn’t utter this statement, wishing a Merry Christmas in the most nostalgic of ways.

I had to find out, who were these friendly and kind people?

“Old Timer Trees has been a valued partner helping to raise funds for Earleigh Heights for many years,” said Bill Flinter, corporate secretary at Earleigh Heights.

Twenty-eight years to be exact.

Flinter also shared that Old Timer Trees made a generous donation to the fire company during 2020 when it couldn’t open because of the pandemic.

All these years later, I love getting my Christmas tree here with my family the day after Thanksgiving. It’s always the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.

Moreover, the “BIG” in the Christmas catchphrase has evolved for me. It’s less about a big group of presents (childhood me) and more about the unexpected joys of the holiday season like childlike wonder from my toddler daughters, time with family and good health.

As in years past, Earleigh Heights began tree sales the day after Thanksgiving. The fire company will operate from 9:00am to 9:00pm daily until all trees are sold, which is usually by the third week of December.

Back by popular demand, Sweet Satisfaction will bring its food truck on select nights so patrons can enjoy delicious hot chocolate, treats and more.

I encourage you all to support our local volunteer fire department this holiday season and buy your tree or wreaths at Earleigh Heights.

And, like the tree salesman said all those decades ago, I hope “y’all have a BIG Christmas.”

Lauren Burke Meyer is a Severna Park native who was inspired to write Lauren’s Law as a humorous play on the well-known Murphy’s Law adage: “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”

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