How some Grinch stole grandma's walker

MONROE — There’s apparently a person in Monroe with a heart “two sizes too small” who doesn’t like the merry and warm-hearted grandmother living in the Mid Oaks section of town and wants to deprive her of the use of her four-wheeled walker. A version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” seems to have arrived in Monroe, with someone stealing Dolores Henrich’s walker right off the porch in the front of her house. Only this adaptation is called “How the Grinch Stole Grandma’s Walker!” Unusual for the neighborhood “We’ve always kept it on the front porch,” said Henrich on Wednesday afternoon. “I use it for when I go for long walks. In our neighborhood, it’s always quiet. People keep a lot of things on their porches and no one bothers any of it. On the other porches (at the other houses), nothing’s been touched. But this, it’s bulky and hard to manage. I wonder if it’s some kids wanting to have a joy ride with it.” The four-wheeled walker has bicycle-like handle bars and a small basket in the front and has been Henrich’s traveling safeguard as she continues her recovery from a nasty ankle break about three months ago. “I’m in my 80s and I didn’t think it was funny at first,” said Henrich, who first moved to Monroe in late 1959. “But the point is, who would want it? If some kids tried to take it home to their parents, they’d have a hard time explaining what they had.” And, to add to her aggravation and distress, Henrich said she kept all the special “poop bags” for her beloved dog Chloe in that walker, so when the pair would go for walks, Henrich would always be able to clean up after her. But unlike Cindy Lou Who, Henrich still doesn’t think the Christmas spirit in Whoville … rather, Monroe … is lost. Despite taking her walker away, Christmas will come just the same and Henrich will replace the six-month-old piece of equipment with a new one. 'Why?’ In the meantime, Henrich has filed a police report and added she’d be grateful if anyone would return the walker if they found it. More importantly, she hopes the Grinchy person will return the walker, though the fanfare by which the real Grinch returned all the presents and trimmings to Whoville isn’t required. “I’d like to ask them, 'Why did you take my walker?’” she said. “But if you put it back where you found it, all will be well.” And maybe, just maybe, touched by the realization that all would be forgiven, that person’s heart will grow three times larger, too. - Nancy Kriz Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to all Whos far and near. Christmas day is in our grasp, so long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart, and hand in hand.” From Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”