WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Two years away from turning 100, Josephine Cheesbrough smiled from her wheelchair at two reindeer as if she was 10 years old.
Gone were her pigtails and innocence while growing up in a sleepy Ohio town. Old age has long kidnapped her vibrancy of youth.
But Tuesday at Fellowship Community continuing care retirement community, the magic and memories of Christmas returned: In the woman’s smile. In her twinkling eyes.
Memories of Christmases past skipping rope in her soul.
"Seeing them makes me young again.”Josephine Cheesbrough, 98, a resident of Fellowship Community
“Seeing these reindeer brings back such warm memories of when I was a little girl,” Cheesbrough said. “Seeing them makes me remember Christmas from a long time ago.
"Seeing them makes me young again.”
Mission accomplished for the folks at Fellowship Community.
They arranged to have residents treated to seeing two live reindeer from Spruce Ridge Reindeer LLC, a reindeer farm in Carbon County.
Residents petted and posed for photographs and videos with the reindeer — Cupid, 9, and Clarice, 12.
'Didn't think we were having live reindeer'
The event was designed to help make the holiday season a bit warmer and brighter for residents.
“We felt it was important to have events like this,” said Kelly Gould, Fellowship Community vice president of marketing and development.
“Many of the residents have their families living out of town. So, we become their family.”
“Seeing these reindeer brings back such warm memories of when I was a little girl."Josephine Cheesbrough, 98, a resident of Fellowship Community
The people-friendly reindeer stood side by side on a red tarpaulin as residents sidled up to them.
Cassandra Hoover, owner of the reindeer farm, said she had goosebumps watching the residents’ smile while meeting the animals.
“You see adults turn into 6-year-olds,” Hoover said. “It gets them remembering Christmas when they were little. It gets them remembering better days.”
'It's a wonderful treat'
The reindeer event was the first-ever for Fellowship Community. It was held in conjunction with other holiday events such as shopping at the North Pole and a visit by Santa Claus later this week.
“The staff and residents really enjoy these things,” said Kim Cseh, Fellowship Community director of activities. “They love getting their picture taken with the reindeer and Santa.
“When we told the residents about the reindeer event, many of them didn’t think we were having live reindeer. They really seem to be enjoying having them here.”
Cupid, Clarice and three other reindeer at the Spruce Ridge farm are minor celebrities of sorts. They were included in some scenes that were filmed at the farm last month for the movie “St. Nick of Bethlehem.”
Bethlehem native Danny Roebuck plays the title character. A Christmas 2024 release is planned either on Hallmark Channel or an unnamed streaming service.
“You remember singing ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ as a girl. And you remember seeing reindeer on TV. But you never think you’ll be so close to a real one, to pet one. It’s such a wonderful treat for all of us.”Fellowship Community resident Carol Beisel
After petting and having her picture taken with Cupid, resident Carol Beisel said meeting the reindeer in person sparked memories of Christmas when she was a child.
“You remember singing ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ as a girl,” Beisel said. “And you remember seeing reindeer on TV.
"But you never think you’ll be so close to a real one, to pet one. It’s such a wonderful treat for all of us.”
