1/2/2026
our elf is bigger than your elf
A Winter at Stella Story
We’re still recovering.
It started innocently enough, as you’d expect. One day, an elf appeared on campus. Not a cute, palm-sized shelf-sitter with a mischievous wink—but a giant elf. The kind of elf that makes you ask uncomfortable questions like, “What is really going on at the North Pole?!” and “Is he…allowed to be doing that?”
Thus began a month-long game of cat and mouse between the elf and our CEO. (Spoiler, they were buddies by the end.)
THE EARLY DAYS: SAFETY CONCERNS WERE RAISED
Our first sightings set the tone. While most elves quietly observe from mantels, bringing treats, ours immediately chose chaos. He wedged himself inside a metal sculpture at Central Intake, prompting the reasonable question: Aren’t elves supposed to be small?
From there, things escalated—fast.
There was the detox building incident. At first glance, you’d think it was a decoration, only to realize oh no, that’s the elf. Scaling the side of the building, his antics made us wonder if we needed him to sign some kind of waiver.
Heights were never an issue. Our fearless elf also sat on the Gallagher roof, surveying the campus like a holiday gargoyle.
SNOWFALL
December arrived. Snow followed. And apparently so did avalanches.
For one tense morning, the elf was missing. Gone. Vanished. Until the snow melted just enough to reveal he had been buried on the Gallagher roof, victim of his own mischief. Proof, if ever needed, that the bigger the elf, the bigger the problems.
Undeterred by his brush with nature, he reemerged with renewed purpose—this time perched on the parking lot entry gate, clearly ready to pass judgment on who was naughty or nice. (It felt safest to just wave politely and keep driving.)
TRANSPORTATION TROUBLES
When building pursuits lost their thrill, the elf turned to transportation.
First: the golf cart. Stolen. Rumor has it he wanted to turn the campus into the Indy 500 and had zero hesitation about running over anyone on the naughty list.
He also hitchhiked. One morning, he was discovered climbing into a truck bed We don’t know where he was headed but at least the golf cart was returned. Small wins.
Then came the bike. That he tried to steal. The bike was very much chained to the wall.
INTO THE STREETS (AND THE TREES)
As if campus weren’t enough, our elf took his antics public—perched atop a stop sign, like he was directing traffic. Was he trying to get a better view of the neighborhood lights? We may never know.
At one point he was spotted halfway up a tree, scaling branches like a caffeine-fueled woodland creature. Was he thinking of pouncing on CEO Christine? That could have been a disaster. All we could do was hope Santa held comprehensive workers’ comp.
COFFEE, CONTEMPLATION, AND THE BIG BOOK
After having a somewhat serious coffee chat with CEO Christine on the smoking deck, the elf slowed down. Or at least redirected his energy.
He wandered into the coffee shop for a sugar cookie and bellied up to the counter, inserting himself into conversations. In response, Christine handed him a Big Book, introducing him to the fundamentals of AA. He seemed…receptive. Reflective, even.
This contemplative phase deepened when he was later found front row, center seat in the empty auditorium, waiting patiently for a meeting. Luckily, with an average of 35 meetings a week on campus, he didn’t have to wait long.
And maybe that’s the thing about this elf.
Sure, he dangled from buildings. Yes, he caused many to suffer heart palpitations. Certainly, the Facilities department probably still has questions about roof access, and of course, HR had some real concerns about legal liability.
But woven through all the mischief was something familiar: curiosity, connection, community—and the reminder that growth sometimes looks a little…off the wall.
THE FINAL VERDICT
As the season wraps up and the elf (presumably) returns to somewhere less death-defying, we can say this with confidence:
Our elf was bigger. His shenanigans were unmatched. And our campus will probably take a full year to recover!
Until next year… #OurElfIsBiggerThanYourElf #StellaShenanigans 🎄✨
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*Special thanks to Facilities Director Nick Costakis for helping the Elf get around.