Christmas · Family member · Heartfelt · about a minute
Heartfelt Christmas Toast to Grandma (About 1 Minute)
The oldest grandchild toasting his grandmother at the family's last Christmas in her house before she moves to an apartment, wanting it to be warm rather than sad.
Given by Elton, the oldest grandson. 140 words. The names are made up.
The toast
I'm Elton, the oldest grandkid, which means my ornaments are the ugliest ones on that tree.
Grandma has kept every ornament any of us ever made. Nine grandkids, going back to 1994. The popsicle-stick reindeer with one antler is mine. The felt angel with three eyes is Gail's. She was four, and we've never asked.
This is the last Christmas in this house. Grandma moves to the apartment in February, and last night she handed each of us a shoebox. Inside are our own ornaments, wrapped in newspaper, every one labeled in her handwriting with the year we made it.
Grandma, we'll hang them every year, on our own trees, in our own living rooms, and every one of us is going to think of this one.
Please raise your glasses. To Grandma, and to the reindeer with one antler.
Why it works: The ornaments do the emotional work, so the speaker never has to say how sad the move is. A quick laugh about an ugly reindeer keeps it from getting heavy, and the last line brings the laugh back as something tender.
Make it yours
Borrow the shape, not the lines. Put your own people, your own year and your own detail in each spot, or answer a few questions and get a first draft built from them.