Mary Crashes Crèche: EMT Kiwanians Save the Day

By Rosemary Cummings

For weeks in advance, George Blacklock and Jack Eliason diligently prepared the Nativity Crèche. Once again, it would make its pilgrimage from its modern-day Nazareth (Kiwanis House on Kent St) to its modern-day Bethlehem manger (Wilmington Trust on Rehoboth Ave). They took the Crèche from the attic, repaired the stable, polished Mary, Joseph, the Wise men, and even the sheep got a good going over. Straight from his Super Fresh duties collecting food, Jim Horn arrived just after 9 AM ready to transport the ensemble. The journey proved to more than a little biblical in its obstacles. Jim weaved his way around a 5K race and more than a few orange cones barricading the roads. Just as he thought he arrived safe and sound with his precious cargo, Mary's camel, aka the trailer, hit a bump that sent BV Mary soaring into the air, then plummeting to the ground and finally, under the wheels of the trailer. The crowd shouted, and Jim stopped. The crowd huddled around the injured statue; then the heroic Kiwanians proceeded to administer emergency first aid. Hey, there is nothing a little duct tape and super glue cannot fix, right? All's well that ends well. Could it be that Mary remembered that Rehoboth means, "Room for one more sinner" and decided to take a dive? Or, did she just want a little makeover for the big job? With that small tumble a new winter project for the key club was born. One that would take the club into the field of healing - well, restoring -- the statues to their original beauty for the next year. Passers-by took pictures and told everyone how much they appreciated Kiwanis. Even though everything that could go wrong did, it did not take away the fun. Happily, the Holy Family is resting in its Rehoboth Ave spot until after New Year's Day. Then the journey begins again. No doubt, it will be another adventure. Well, no one can say Kiwanians do not have fun doing service. No one.