You ever been Elfed?
Yes, E-l-f-e-d.
Assuming this has nothing to do with a visit from Will Ferrell, c’mon, Jan, what do you mean by “elfed?“
Thanks for asking! Here’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
In December 2020, pre-COVID vaccine and socially quarantined, people were feeling very un-holiday like. What holiday? Too many dark clouds over our heads. It was in this context that I stepped out onto my front porch and almost tripped over a wrapped package. The attached card said “From an elf.” Caught by surprise, delighted, my mind flipping through possible “elf friends” in my neighborhood, I suddenly felt so much lighter.
Didn’t want to embarrass myself (or others) by contacting individual neighbors and asking “are you the elf?” So, I did the next best thing — jumped on our neighborhood listserv, described my experience, and hoped my elf might come out of the closet. Well, dang, that’s not what happened. It was much better!
A couple of blocks away, another neighbor replied saying his family had also been “elfed.” THEN, another neighbor, and another neighbor (getting hot and heavy here) and another … Well, you get the picture. As other neighbors responded on the listserv sharing their elf experiences, it was almost as if the lights on a darkened Christmas tree began lighting up, one by one. The pandemic darkness and uncertainty in our lives was suddenly in abeyance, and joy, curiosity, and light took over for a while.
Over the course of the next five or six days, “elfing”and being “elfed” became a daily occurrence on our listserv. I have good evidence (but will not blow anyone’s cover) that several copycat elves manifested in the neighborhood as well. The gifts were small and inexpensive, but their value to our spirits was priceless. And, being “elfed” has now become part of our neighborhood lexicon and history.
By the way, I do not believe there are seasonal limits on elfing. If your inner elf is calling, listen!
Jan Hutton is a retired hospice/hospital social worker who believes in living life with heart and humor. She has happily lived in Chatham for 20 years.