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Donna  

One December day as I dutifully reviewed my product for the day's on-air shift, I received last minute notice that instead of doing an hour of apparel, I'd be doing my first ever hour of Christmas items. On the one hand, I was game and excited because it looks like such a pretty holiday, on the other I was nervous because I had no real knowledge of Christmas or memories to draw upon to romance and fill 55 minutes of airtime. (How much could you say about an hour of Rosh Hashanah items?) What really threw me, though was the last minute notice in combination with my first encounter with a crèche scene. In fact, I never even knew it was called a crèche until I read the 2 sentence cue card. I thought instantly - "Now where do you put one of these? I get the wreaths, the tree I've got, I'm good with the Santa mugs, but where do you put a crèche?" I knew it was a holy scene. I knew, too that in the Jewish religion if the bible accidentally falls on the floor, you have to kiss it before returning it to its respected place "off the floor." Since this scene looked pretty holy, I reasoned it couldn't likely go UNDER the tree and thus ON the floor. But given all the pieces, where do you  put it?

 
Thankfully I saw a seasoned male host walking through the studio. I tackled him in a panic saying, "Quick! I'm on in 3 minutes - What do you do with the crèche?" He saw my flop sweat and said matter-of-factly, "Oh, Christian people put those on their TV sets." (This is in the day before the flat screen....) "Really?!?," I asked with half amazement and half suspicion. "Really. My mother does, my grandmother does. This way, you see it a lot every time you watch TV and you're reminded of the message of Christmas." Sounded good - and I was in a hurry.

Donna on QVC with Kathy Levine

Fast forward to the live Christmas segment. Hosted by the Jewish girl. I'm selling item after item, digging deep into every Christmas movie I've ever seen, every Christmas party I'd ever been to, every Christmas TV commercial I'd ever seen painting pictures of this special holiday. I'm selling, I'm romancing, I'm keeping it light and keeping it moving. Because I really have no idea what I'm talking about! Finally, the backstage assistant known as the product coordinator brings me "my friend" the crèche to sell. After I wax poetically about its physical attributes, I move in to close the deal by telling people where they'd use it. And the words left my mouth, "Wouldn't this look spectacular on top of your TV set? Really keep you in touch with the meaning of the season..." As I said these fake-it-till-you-make-it lines, I heard through my ear piece thunderous laughter from the guys in the control room. At the same moment, I spied my TV host colleague just off camera doubled over laughing at the joke he'd pulled.

So I quickly added..."And then again...maybe not. Maybe you can put this on your dining room table...uh...let's take another look at the fine detailing of each piece."  Notice that I'm still avoiding the "under the tree idea"...just in case this item is too holy for a floor, according to "somebody"...what did I know??

To this day, when I see a crèche, I recall my very public "hazing" by my work pals. I think so fondly of all that laughter in that studio, the friendships behind it,  the running jokes that lasted long after as we enjoyed each others' company in the years that followed. And aren't these wonderful things to reflect upon this time of year?

So for this holiday and always, I'm wishing you laughter, good times and wonderful memories with your friends and family. Merry Christmas!