In Key Largo, sightings of a decorated sleigh are increasing in select neighborhoods. On certain portions of U.S. 1, reports say the well-built glide structure appears as the sun goes down.
And some say it’s not Santa, with Grinch music blaring from the sleigh.
From their home on Bonito Drive, Mike and Patti Zeien head out for a nightly walk on a calm December evening. Christmas lights covering homes power on as the nighttime approaches, and so does Pat Rumford’s scooter-turned-sleigh. Rumford, Patti’s mom, joins the two on their walk in her decked-out Christmas scooter through several neighborhoods and a portion of U.S. 1 near MM 85, bayside.
Decorating Rumford’s scooter goes back some 14 years when she moved to Florida. Mike Zeien, who constructed the sleigh around Rumford’s scooter, said it began as a cocktail walk while living in Boca Raton.
“It was a way to get to know everybody,” Mike said. “It just started as something to do as a joke. It started on Halloween years and years ago, and it’s grown ever since.”
Normally, Rumford’s scooter is draped in lights and other small decorations for upcoming holidays. This year, however, brought a different idea for Zeien after spotting a sled down the street from his house.
“Once I had the pattern, I had to shape it because it wouldn’t cover the whole scooter,” he said. “I ended up making it out of office board, so it’s very light and doesn’t weigh the mobility scooter down.”
With help from his wife, Patti, Mike began constructing the sleigh while Rumford was visiting her son in Tennessee around Thanksgiving. Rumford came home with a big surprise awaiting.
“When they picked me up from the airport we came home. When I first noticed the sled I thought it was meant for decoration in the yard,” Rumford said. “When I realized it was for my cart, I almost fell on the ground.”
On Rumford’s scooter is a top that Mike asked her to crochet before she knew it would be transformed into a sleigh. Rumford’s sleigh also contains a license plate from her favorite movie, “The Grinch” and a sign that says “Merry Grinchmas.”
“I love watching the cartoon and the one with Jim Carrey,” she said. “Everytime it comes on I watch. Jim Carrey’s just crazy.”
The sleigh hit the neighborhoods a few weeks ago. Mike said with honks from passing vehicles also come the selfies and chats with fellow neighbors.
“We know people on all the streets,” Mike said. “The last couple nights we haven’t gone too far. We go three houses, then stop, go two more houses, then stop. We got people chasing us down the street.”
Christmas and Halloween aren’t the only times Rumford’s scooter gets decorations. Mike said they also dress it up for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Memorial Day to the Fourth of July.
“Our best time for honks is when we do it all up in American flags and they’re flying,” he said.
The scooter’s also been decked out to Rumford’s favorite Nascar driver, Kyle Busch, and a tropical theme during a Jimmy Buffett concert. Mike recalled when the scooter made an appearance at a Nascar race in Homestead.
“Pat, not being a shy person at all, saw Kyle had a Mars tent for VIP people. She just drove right into the VIP area with her scooter done up in Kyle Busch and M&M stuff. I’m like, ‘Oh my God,, no.’ I ended up running into the president of marketing for Joe Gibbs racing. I’m apologizing and he’s like, ‘No way, she’s cool.’”
Rumford said she enjoys the joy ride in her scooter. As for the sleigh, Rumford can’t help but smile and wave as she passes by her fellow neighbors.
“I feel good because it helps the other people who can’t get out. To me, it’s fun to get out in the neighborhood and see what’s going on,” she said.
