"Once Upon a Time . . . "

Tiffany & Co.

on Post Street

Once upon a time - a very, very long time ago - there was a 

young man from Mississippi named Scot.  And for many, many 

years he worked for Ralph Lauren -  

designing and installing the store's display windows 

in the magical land of San Francisco.  He was younger and 

thinner than he is now.  But, he was full of passion and a great love of style - 

which he still is to this very day.

Tiffany & Co.

Each year he would wait.  And wait.  And wait.  

He would look at the calendar almost every day.

"Is it time yet?"  "Is it time yet?"

Tiffany & Co.

For he knew very well, that beginning the 

first day after Halloween - he would

begin to install the holiday windows 

for ALL the Polo stores in and around San Francisco.

This was his favourite time of the year.

Gumps

on Post Street

Now, many people would complain as he began to install holiday windows the first week of November.

"Christmas already?!?!?!" would be the daily outburst.

Saks Fifth Avenue

on Post Street

But Scot would try to tell everyone, "It takes SO long for these magical windows to be created. We must start 

early so that we can be finished by Thanksgiving."

But, no one seemed to believe him.

Neimam Marcus

Corner of Geary and Stockton

So everyday Scot would go to each store.  

Working 12 to 16 hours each day.  Everyday.

Including weekends.  Dressing mannequins.  

Making enumerable wreaths.  Building sets for windows.

Macys

on Geary Street

Slowly.  Each day.  The stores began to transform.

It was very hard work.  And some days he would be cranky.

"It is very hard work creating magic."

And he would go home each night - 

and sleep for a few hours - before going back to the store.

Banana Republic

on Grant Street

One day he heard someone say, "Happy Holidays!" 

on the street outside the store.

Banana Republic

on Grant Street

And slowly, people would begin to stop and 

point and smile at the holiday 

creations taking shape in the store's windows.  

Ralph Lauren

on Kearny Street

And finally, after weeks of work, on the 

Wednesday before Thanksgiving - 

everything was perfect.

Ralph Lauren

on Post Street

And after everything was completed.  

Scot would give himself a treat . . . 

He would walk around the streets and 

byways in the magical land of San Francisco,

and see what everyone else had been 

doing whilst he'd been working.

Ralph Lauren

on Post Street

And everyone on the street was smiling.  

And wishing each other Happy Holidays.

And he hoped that his little contribution 

helped make the magical land of San

Francisco just slightly more magical.

Th end.

I decided to begin my holiday celebrations a few days early.  So on my way home from the office on Wednesday, I grabbed my camera and relived those old days - wandering the city streets to see all the holiday windows.  Sometimes I miss being able to work on the holiday windows.  

Be sure to be back on Monday - I've got an exciting announcement.  

Cheers,

Scot

All photography, Scot Meacham Wood for "The Adventures of Tartanscot."