It's a Wonderful Memory

I met Karolyn Grimes, best known for her portrayal of Zuzu, George Bailey’s youngest daughter in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” shortly after our family moved back to Washington State from the Midwest in 2005.

As the new pastor of the Covenant church in our community, I invited Karolyn to share her faith journey with our congregation. She graciously agreed. In the course of that interview, I realized her life (unlike the title of her movie) has not been all that wonderful.

Karolyn indicated that both her parents died before she reached her sixteenth birthday. As such, she was forced to leave a career she loved. She revealed the pain with which she’d lived following two divorces, a husband’s terminal cancer and the suicide of a teenage son.

Then Karolyn went on to tell me that Frank Capra’s timeless film, in which she had appeared as a six-year-old, was the means by which she unexpectedly found joy decades later.

When the Target Corporation reunited the child actors from “It’s a Wonderful Life” and took them on a nationwide tour in 1993, Karolyn discovered the ongoing influence of the movie. She began making public appearances across the country interacting with fans of the film.

In the process she heard countless stories of how the message of the movie continues to inspire hope. Her relationship to the film became a source of pride and gave her renewed purpose. She chose to become a self-appointed ambassador for the Capra classic.

My interview with Karolyn long ago resulted in an ongoing friendship. And that friendship became the impetus for a publisher approaching me to write a book about “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

In the course of getting to know Karolyn and her husband Chris, I learned that this favorite Christmas movie was actually filmed during a Southern California heatwave in 1946. Temperatures were so intense that filming had to be suspended for the safety of the cast and crew.

For those involved in the filming of “It’s a Wonderful Life” eighty years ago this month, Christmas was celebrated significantly early. It had to be. Making a holiday movie several months before Christmas demanded it.

And that got me thinking. I began to question…Must the traditions we ordinarily associate with Christmas need only be practiced in December? Is there a rule that prohibits acting Christmassy in August?

What if we continued to give gifts to people we love year-round (and not just at Christmas or on their birthday)? What if we took the time to write and mail cards to those in our spheres of influence as a way of staying in touch beyond December?

What about inviting friends and family into our homes for special meals throughout the year? How about playing joyful music and lighting candles in our homes as a way of creating an uplifting ambiance? What about taking intentional time to contemplate the message of the Creator becoming part of His creation? That activity certainly isn’t limited to the last month of the year.

And here’s an out-of-the-box idea. What about keeping up a miniature artificial tree throughout the year with tiny ornaments that call to mind your family history. In our family, we collect keychains from unique places we’ve visited that hang from our Christmas tree. The sight of those various keychains unlock memories that remind us of our shared life.

I often see merchants this time of year advertise “Christmas in the summer” sales in which they promote special savings as a means of drawing in customers. For me, reference to “Christmas in the summer” is a prompt to think of my favorite holiday film as well as the opportunity to embrace what makes Christmas special every month of the year.

** Greg is pictured with Karolyn Grimes holding a poster featuring the title poem for his book “Zuzu’s Wonderful Life,” a collection of poetry inspired by the Frank Capra classic movie. Here's the full poem:

Zuzu’s Wonderful Life

Four kids lived in the Bailey home
with Zuzu number three. 
  But Zuzu didn’t mind her place at all.
Her daddy called her Ginger Snap.
She loved that name a lot.
  A nickname is a wonder when you’re small.

And siblings can be wonders, too,
especially if they’re kind.
  In Zuzu’s case they were her closest friends.
Both Pete and Janie helped her learn
and Tommy made her laugh.
  Their love for one another knew no end.

Another wonder Zuzu claimed
was living in a town
  where neighbors cared for those who were in need.
In Bedford Falls the children played
without concern for fear
  and only Mr. Potter dealt with greed.

One other source of wonder
was the Bailey’s mom and dad.
  Both George and Mary were amazing folks.
They  gave their sons and daughters
all they needed to succeed,
  but Zuzu mostly loved her father’s jokes.

Zuzu prayed for her dear daddy
when George got into a jam.
  She called on God and Heaven heard her prayer.
And the wonder of all wonders
is what Zuzu learned that day.
  You can share with God your feelings anywhere.

Zuzu’s wonder-filled existence
is quite like the one we have.
  There are blessings all around us big and small.
As with Zuzu, we have wonders
that make living wonderful.
  We have reasons to be grateful after all.

poem by Greg Asimakoupoulos