Re: Childhood holiday memories

From: djgordon (danigordon_at_bellsouth.net)
Date: 12/20/04 

Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 09:08:31 -0600

What wonderful memories. Let's see, what do I remember that stands out? We
never had a real tree because we had a wood stove and keeping it wet so as
not to start a fire would have been too hard, but that was okay, artificial
trees are nice too. There are four of us girls and growing up we didn't have
a lot of money, so mom shopped all year long at yard sales and the like to
get things such as games or toys, but the clothes we got would be bought
new. Our stockings held fruit and nuts and maybe a piece or two of jewelry
and candy canes. Until the time I moved out at 17 Santa still visited and so
while gifts from mom and dad were wrapped, "Santa's" gifts were set out
unwrapped in four spots for us girls. We would then have a big breakfast and
either wait for our grandparents to show up or go to their house if it was
our turn. We have always had the traditional turkey dinner just like
Thanksgiving. I think I remember one of my favorite years. I was around 7 or
8 and Charlie's Angels was the thing. I got a mannequin head with Jackie's
hair on a wig with working curling iron, hairdryer, combs, brushes etc, so I
could look just like her--LOL. As for decorations, there were ornaments that
were special to all of us that are hanging on my mom's tree to this day. Mom
had two very large lighted candles that went out on the front walk. Oh yeah,
every Eve if the grandparents were in early my Pappap and dad told us kids
they were sitting up all night (guns sitting across their laps) and would
shoot any intruders (read Santa). That may seem like a harsh thing to some,
but to us kids it was just another of the traditions...and we all knew no
one would ever really shoot Santa. I think the memories we're making now are
just as good with new traditions. We get up around 5 open presents here and
then travel five doors down to my parents' house and open presents there
with as many of my sisters who were able to make the six hour trip (two live
here and two live in Branson area). We then have started our own breakfast
tradition of pork brains and eggs with toast for breakfast. Then we sit
around and put together, hook up, insert batteries, play, etc. with all our
new toys until about noon when dad and I then go deep fry the turkey. Okay,
my mouth is watering, have to go eat breakfast. Everyone, have a wonderful
holiday season.

Dani

"Judity01" <judity01@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041219153426.07763.00002361@mb-m01.aol.com...
> Christmas was one holiday Dad really participated in. He'd get out the
strings
> of large blue lights and hang them outside around the steps to our front
porch.
> I couldn't figure out why he chose blue instead of the traditional red
and
> green, but he was so proud of his handiwork I never questioned him on it.
> Besides, blue lights reflected nicely on all that white snow.
>
> A week or so before December 25, he'd go out to the wood lot that he owned
at
> the edge of town and cut down a tree for the living room. That evening
we'd
> all pitch in to decorate it; again, Dad was in charge of the little
> multicolored strings of lights. This was in the days when if one light
went
> out, the whole string was dead. I can still hear his fingernails clicking
on
> each bulb to see which ones were good and which had to be replaced. Do
any of
> you have some of those lights now?
>
> Mum would bring out from the dining room closet the box filled with the
fragile
> ornaments. My favorite one had an indentation with a little figure inside
> there, very old fashioned. Of course we also had the usual ones that seem
to
> break if you just looked at it. After we had finished, Dad would turn out
the
> living room light and switch on the tree lights. Between the beauty of
the
> tree and the fragrance of it, that first night was magical.
>
> So as to not bore you with all my memories, I'll write more later if you
don't
> mind but would enjoy hearing how you all celebrated the holidays as a
child.
>
> Judity
>
>

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