RISK! Holiday Stories Fan Favorites!
Dec 25, 2025
Elna Baker, a candid storyteller and comedian, shares a touching tale of adopting a misfit doll from FAO Schwarz, reflecting on unexpected losses. Musician Sarah Long Hendershot recounts a life-changing moment when a mysterious box of cash arrives during a tough winter, showcasing the power of community. Bartender Kate Bohl reveals her magical blizzard encounter with a stranded woman, where a slow dance to Billie Holiday creates a timeless connection, encapsulating the beauty of spontaneous moments. Each story intertwines humor, hope, and the spirit of the season.
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Memory Trumps Accuracy In Family Lore
- Kevin Allison describes how family rituals and retelling reshape memories into cherished traditions.
- He shows that families value the story more than factual accuracy, laughing about who 'shat' on whose lap across years.
A Split Mass And The Great Tree Hunt
- Kevin recounts his father's 1970 decision to split a Catholic mass and drive the family to Indiana to chop down their own Christmas tree.
- The ritual combined religion, Handel's Messiah on eight-track, oversized trees, and lasagna, becoming a decades-long family tradition.
Poverty Can Fall Fast; Kindness Reverses Dominoes
- Sarah highlights how quickly a family's stability can slide into crisis when financial slack disappears.
- Small acts of generosity can halt the dominoes and reconnect people to opportunity and community.