When Doug Waller decided to give his nine-year-old daughter Samantha a special and unique gift this past Christmas, he didn’t go to the nearest mall or flip through some expensive catalog.
Instead, the loving Oxford father looked deep inside his heart and, with the help of some friends, turned his daughter’s bedroom into a place fit for a princess.
A colorful castle now adorns Samantha’s bedroom door inside the family’s Moyer Street home.
When you walk in and look to the right, you see a wall mural depicting Cinderella dancing with Prince Charming, surrounded by an elegant coach (formerly a pumpkin) and some smiling cartoon mice and birds.
It all started when Doug asked Samantha, who’s a fourth-grader at Leonard Elementary, what she wanted for Christmas. ‘Just surprise me? was Samantha’s response.
Doug said he didn’t want to buy her the hottest or trendiest toys because eventually they ‘end up forgotten and shoved in the closet or under the bed.?
Seeing a fairytale princess style mirror at Home Depot gave Doug the inspiration to redo Samantha’s bedroom with a Disney princess theme.
‘She’s always been my little princess,? Doug said. ‘She spends a lot of time in her bedroom ? doing homework, reading, spending time with her cat.?
Most importantly, Doug said he wanted to give his daughter ‘something she can see and enjoy everyday,? something that would constantly remind her of dad’s love.
Lacking the artistic ability to create a wall mural, Doug found help from local artist Terri Edge, a 14-year resident of Lake Orion.
Doug met Terri through her brother Chuck Bromirski. You see Doug and Chuck share a special common bond ? both men care for their elderly mothers on a full-time basis.
When Alzheimer’s disease meant his mother could no longer live alone or care for herself, Doug moved her into his home and unselfishly traded his successful career as a professional chef for one as a professional caregiver. (Readers may remember Doug as the former owner of the Wildcat Cafe and co-owner of The Long Branch.)
To make extra money, Doug serves as a part-time caregiver for Chuck’s mother, working 25 hours a week at the Bromirski household. The five hours a day Doug spends taking care of Mrs. Bromirski gives Chuck a break or ‘respite? as they refer to it.
Terri said she agreed to donate her talents to help create Samantha’s Christmas gift because of what Doug and Chuck do for their mothers.
‘These guys have given up so much to take care of their parents,? she said. ‘These guys give so much of themselves to their mothers . . . I wanted to give something back. This was the least I could do.?
Terri, a former commercial artist who did brochures and logos for the Big Three auto companies, drew all the figures by hand on wallpaper. Doug then painted them.
‘I thought it was cool that I had a part in it,? he said. ‘That made it even more special.?
Terri and Shaunte Waller, Doug’s teenage niece whom he’s raising, hung the wall art a few days before Christmas.
When she saw it, Samantha was surprised and thrilled.
‘I was amazed,? she said. ‘I thank him and I love him. I give him lots of hugs and kisses.?
When asked what her favorite part of the new room was, Samantha’s eyes sparkled as she replied, ‘Everything.?
‘It meant the world to me to be able to do this for her,? Doug said with a smile.
Fancy, expensive gifts dazzle and impress for a short time, but their novelty is fleeting. Ultimately, they’re forgotten or discarded in favor of something newer, bigger and better.
What lasts a lifetime are the simple gestures from the heart, the unconditional love of a parent and the priceless relationship between father and his daughter.
Those are greatest gifts of all.