Frankenmuth

"River Place Shops," my mom finished. I smiled. Shopping was her favorite sport. I noticed potted flowers along the bridge as we crossed the Cass River, and more groomed plants along sidewalks and in windowsills. The whole Frankenmuth scene was beautifully presented and clearly cared for. Looking at a pair of roughly four-foot-tall nutcrackers decorating an entryway, Lex said, "That's so cuuute!" as we drove past. My mom and I burst out laughing. We realized we'd said, "That's cute" a few times already. Our attention was stolen by a fudge shop, and then again by a brewery. "Ein mehr bier, bitte!" I exclaimed. "Ja! Das is richtig," my mom answered (yes, that is right). After Lex's jabberwocky response, my mom and I started trying to teach her German. I focused on "handschuh." I told Lex her great-grandmother taught me that. She said, "Oh," and laughed when I explained. "Mom would have adored this place!" my mom said. Lex practiced saying "handschuh" again (and again and again) as we bundled up at the hotel before our first outing. We ventured out and meandered in and out of shops on Main Street, admiring the wares and decorations. Lex made friends along the way, saying "Hi!" to people as she felt inclined. Her unfettered friendliness fit right in. Locals and visitors alike were quick to offer greetings and smiles. Frankenmuth Fudge Kitchen had our hearts from first waft as we walked by. Inside, we watched artists pour melted fudge onto marble slabs, work magic with a scraper, and integrate more happiness in the form of English Walnuts and Coconut Dough (we're talking German Chocolate… as fudge!). They sliced the cooled fudge into half-moon chunks of sweet joy. Lex's face lit up when I placed a fudge-themed paper hat upon her head. With treats for the road, we headed off to meet a steed for a carriage ride. The carriages were festively decorated with twinkling lights and garlands. "It's a horsey!" Lex called out. "What's that sound? It's songing!" I smiled and let Lex's coined term fly. We heard the sleigh bells and Christmas music as an arriving horse stepped up. The half-hour ride was idyllic. We sat on the comfy seats snuggled under blankets, admiring decorations and learning fun anecdotes about the area. We simply enjoyed each other's company. It was an experience we could be fully content in — no one regrets making memories like these. We discussed favorite Christmas traditions and highlights, including Oma's. When Oma was a little kid, her dad left a strategically placed boot print in the snow for her to discover Christmas morning (and there was a rogue sleigh bell!) Oma just knew Santa was real then. We thanked the driver and the horse for the enchanting ride and aimed ourselves toward food and beer at Frankenmuth Brewery. Lex had a small amount of Frankie's Root Bier — a delicious craft soda, and my mom and I split a Christmas Town Ale, which was effectively the holiday season turned into a beer, with spices including cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Of course, I broke out my German phrase for the occasion. It's a horsey! 29

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