By Mary O’KEEFE

On Saturday hometown girl Ruby was a participant in the Montrose Christmas Parade. It was easy to spot her; she was in a 1967 convertible with a sign on the door that read “Ruby Wishes You Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” and wearing one the most winning smiles in the entire parade.

Ruby is 15 years old and attends Glendale High School in Patricia Telles’ teacher assistant’s class. She was also a Lincoln Elementary Lion, a Fremont Elementary Bear and a Rosemont Middle School Spartan. She is a true hometown girl.

“She was in the [Montrose Christmas Parade] when she was 4 or 5 and at Cloud Preschool,” said Ruby’s mom Peggy Bedevian.

But even before her preschool debut Ruby was part of the parade. She made her way down Honolulu Avenue when mom was pregnant with her when they were part of St. Peter Armenian Church, said Ruby’s dad Mike Geragos.

Though Ruby is minimally-verbal that does not mean there is ever any doubt about what she wants and what she is thinking.

“Her daddy has this really cool car that’s red and she loves driving in the car,” Bedevian said.

Ruby can’t exactly articulate, “I want to be in the parade” but her parents knew this was something she would enjoy. She is very social.

“Whenever we walk [down Honolulu Avenue] people would say hi to Ruby,” Bedevian said. “I would ask where they know her from.” People knew Ruby from school, from being in stores like Schreiner’s, from the former Faye’s and just being around town.

“She is a homegrown girl and this is her hometown,” Bedevian said.

Ruby was very excited to be in the parade and in fact had to go to Target, her favorite store, to get a parade outfit. During the parade she sat in her daddy’s convertible, smiled and enjoyed her neighbors waving and cheering as she drove by.

In addition to loving the parade, she also loves the cars.

“She is a gear head,” Geragos said. “She loves cars and driving her electric car.”

Her parents also said she is a bit of a “ham” so the attention she got during the parade was welcomed.

“What is so sweet about [the parade] is that it is our little hometown [event],” Bedevian said. She added her family feels lucky to be in such a caring community and Ruby has received great services through Glendale Unified School District.

Ruby was not alone in the parade convertible. In addition to her parents were her godmother Gina Khorigian and Nora Pineda, who Geragos describes as “like a sister” who was also a caregiver for a decade for his parents and who created a special bond with Ruby.

“And Dan Conroy, a very good friend,” Geragos said. “We were roommates in college and were in a band together [called] the Southern Skies.”

Ruby was surrounded by friends and family as she traveled down the parade route that reflected a community she loves so much.