It’s been five years since I have shared why Candy Cane Lane is so near and dear to my heart.
Having a view of that mountain with the street all lit up in my old bedroom window from the age of four till I was thirteen was a big part of it, but then something magical happened years later.
Grab a cup of hot cocoa and come sit by your tree.
Let me tell you about one of my favorite Christmas stories.
I was nineteen years old. Life was good. I was still with my high school sweetheart and working full time. All I knew was that I never had to go back to school, which made me the happiest person alive. I was in love with this very handsome guy named Chris McElroy. I knew he was a keeper.
On December 19, 2004, our lives changed forever. He planned to take me out to dinner that evening. It was strange that he asked on a Sunday. Usually, we hung out at my parents’ house because, on Sunday nights, Momma made us all our famous nachos and cheese — salty nachos piled high with extra sharp cheese. Chris’s first meal with us on our first date back in 1999. He said that was the deal-sealer for how he knew I was the one.
I still remember getting ready that night. My momma seemed extra happy — not Christmas excitement happy, but a different kind of happiness. Both of my parents saw me off to dinner that night when we heard Chris’s car pull into the driveway. Momma made sure I was dressed warm enough, while Dad made sure to tell us to “drive safe.” He always did and still does to this day.
Off we went to dinner at the Olive Garden. Man, I loved it there; I still do! We both ordered the Chicken Alfredo that night, but Chris seemed off. It was kinda strange. Just extra quiet, and then the food came, and he could hardly eat. This was like a rare event because this boy could eat! (Now we have a fifteen-year-old just like him. Haha. A bottomless pit!) I remember our exact table that night and how the evening went. We had a nice time, but I could just tell that something was off.
We left the OG, and I thought, at that point, we were heading back home. As we were getting up on the highway, he asked if I would like some hot cocoa and go look at some lights. I never say no to driving around looking at lights. Lights, especially Christmas lights, make me so happy. I can have the worst day in the world, but if I go out that evening and look at the lights, I forget about absolutely everything. They seriously make me so happy.
With hot cocoa in our hands, we were driving around Southside, looking at lights, making our way towards Candy Cane Lane. When we got there, Chris pulled over on the lower part of Summer Street, pulled the e-brake, and looked over at me.
“Care to walk up Candy Cane Lane tonight?” he asked.
Now, I haven’t mentioned yet that it was the coldest night! It was seven degrees outside with a windchill that made it negative. I was hesitant, but I said, “Well, it’s freezing out, but I guess I am up for it since you and my momma made sure I dressed warm.” It sounded fun. All these years, I had never walked up Candy Cane Lane. I had only driven.
As we were walking up, the traffic was horrible. Both lanes were filled with joyful seekers enjoying the lights. Little did Chris know that night that they would have a live manager scene, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus there. What a neat experience to walk up that evening. We reached the top, and Chris seemed nervous. I asked him if he was OK. I thought maybe he was just out of breath from the climb or something, even though we were not walking at a fast pace. He just kept looking around as if he was looking for something. He grabbed my hand, and we walked across the street back down the other side. We get about a quarter of the way down, and he stops in front of my favorite house. He looks at me dead in the eyes and says, “Can you hold this for me, please?” He asked me to hold his hot cocoa cup. He reached into his coat, and before I realized what was going on, he got down on one knee. I, completely dumbfounded, finally realized what was going on. All the puzzle pieces started coming together!
“I love you so much. Will you marry me?” he asked.
With my hands covering my mouth, I nodded my head, yes, as all the people around us started clapping and cars beeped their horns.
“Yes!!” I said as I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.
It couldn’t have been a more magical setting. It was perfect.
Chris purposely picked a Sunday evening, so there wasn’t anything over there that night. Little did he know that they still had live people on a Sunday evening. We still laugh about it to this day because that made him even more nervous with so many people around.
This December 19th will be our 20th anniversary of this memorable night.
We have walked up Candy Cane Lane every year since then. Going to the OG for dinner, stopping for hot cocoa, and walking up Candy Cane Lane.
Our children quickly became a part of this tradition with us, and now it’s a tradition that happens every year. I am so thankful for such a special place to go to every year and relive that night over and over again.
Candy Cane Lane will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you to everyone on that amazing street who gives so many that Christmasy feeling every time we drive up. Merry Christmas, Summer, and Spring Street!
It’s that time of year for my Candy Cane Lane Scavenger Hunt. I love how so many of you look forward to this. Remember, this scavenger hunt goes clear to the top of Summer Street and then up to the tippy top of Spring Street. Have a holly, jolly good time, and maybe we will see you later on Thursday evening!
Candy Cane Lane Scavenger Hunt
– Can you find six manger scenes??
–Ccarolers singing “noel
– A beautifully lit up carriage
– A gingerbread man greeting at a front door
– A crazy pig in a kayak
– Scooby-doo, where are you!?
– Brightly lit american flag
– Santa in an airplane
– Stocking ferris wheel
– Two penguins on a present
– A golden retriever puppy ice skating
– Yukon Cornelius
– A big red bell
– A moose with a red bow
– Rudoph pulling a lighted sleigh
