Christmas of past and future

What a wonderful time of year. It is sure to bring back memories of the holiday adventures of long ago. 

I tried to find some happy Thanksgiving times in my memories but they just weren't there. They were not unhappy. We just didn't do anything but have the usual boiled chicken. What can I say. Okay, I do remember one time we went to cafe that served a dinner special with turkey, gravy and candied yams. I had never eaten sweet yams and those were super sweet. 

I had noticed an article in the J. Paul Allen newsletter about making a centerpiece from items you had on hand. Oh, I had some of those. So, I got out my wicker basket that I'd never used for anything but it had been a great bargain. I'd thought I would be using it for gathering eggs. Even with all the birds we have now, I never gather more than a dozen at a time. Yes, it is a BIG basket. With scissors, I went out to the top of our hill and cut some boughs of pine and cedar. The little sticks planted so many years ago can now give back stems for what ever I am needing. 

Then I get out the miniature pumpkins and the ornamental gourds that I had wondered what I would ever do with them. I put a nice layer of red, yellow and brown leaves in the bottom of the basket but quickly learned that the gourds would all sink to the bottom of the leaves so I added some newspaper to lift the lot of them. The pieces of cedar and pine add such a unique look but the best part is the aroma. Now that Thanksgiving is past, I want to add some red bows and maybe a few little glass balls for ornament. We don't have space for a Christmas tree anymore. We'd had an artificial one for years but the rodents have ruined it. I could not get past the headache of thinking about the dust involved in trying to get it out and clean it up. No thank you.

Today I will get out the lights and little ornaments we have stored. I made a BUNCH of felt ornaments lots of years ago and mine are all still fine. I had wanted some things that would not get broken if a g-kid were to accidentally knock one off.

When I catch the cedar smell as I past, I go back to childhood when about two weeks before Christmas we (dad, mom, brother Alan and myself) would make mission to go south of Abilene to the hill country. It isn't far and they are small hills at that. In those days, there were few fences or restricted areas. Dad would bring the saw and we would walk for a long way just looking around for a victim cedar tree. It couldn't be very big but we always found one that was just fine.

We had a big box of icicles and several dozen of the glass ornaments in assorted colors. It was a fun ceremony for dad to make the stand to hold up the tree and we would hang those icicles one by one. They were always so neat and pretty. There were no lights to worry about shorting out or overheating. The acquiring the tree and being honored to having it in our home for a while was such fun.

I remember one Christmas from the past when we went to my dad's mother and sister's house in Saint Louis, MO. Somehow the subject of Santa came up and it was explained that we didn't do Santa. Grandma Jones was astounded. That just couldn't be. Dad explained that all he'd ever received from Santa in his stocking was a clump of coal. His mother had told him it was so he would be warmer for that night. But they lived next to a coal storage facility and there were always pieces bouncing into their yard. Grandma made dad go out and rent a Santa suit. So, he comes back dressed in this suit and still looking like our dad. I woke up enough to say, "hi dad." Grandma asks how I am sure it is not Santa? So I tell her to ask him if he brought any presents. Well, no. He did not. She couldn't believe that not only had we not brought any presents for the trip, we received no presents at all. I got a nightgown from mom's parents but dad would not allow any others. She couldn't believe that he had not wanted for his children to have more than he did as a child. He said he found it was not necessary. We had an ornamental hearth but never hung a stocking. Not once.

We always went to midnight prayer service on Christmas eve at our church. It was a most beautiful ceremony and I am sure Alan and I fell asleep on the way home. For our Christmas cards every year, dad would take a photograph of Alan and myself behind a nativity scene. Dad would put a piece of candy behind the cow just to get Alan to stop long enough to look in that direction. That always makes me laugh to see that card even now. 

When I was about convinced that we were the poorest people in the town, our Sunday School teacher took us as a group of twelve year olds to visit the homes of some folks who had absolutely nothing at all. They lived in Abilene, on the far north side. The houses looked like real houses on the outside. We were taking baskets of food but only items that did not have to be cooked. That was the first confusing part. But to go inside, we found that the floors were dirt and all they did have was a roof over their heads. There was no kitchen. There was no bathroom. No one had their own bedroom much less a bed. Made me forget all about anything I didn't have and wished I did. We delivered all the Christmas baskets that year for the church but we also got with the elders and had them find a way to get better houses for the families and make the landlords build at least a real house. It didn't matter that the people were not legal citizens, they deserved better conditions for living. And yes, we did go back with toys, blankets and more food.

When my kids were young, I made the grand effort to give them the delight of watching and waiting for Santa and being so excited over what he had brought them. Sometimes it meant hiding things in the attic but that was part of the fun. We had all the wonder of the religious event but also hung the stockings and left out a plate of cookies for Santa.

We usually talk on the phone to the family and wish everyone well. Granddaughter Kristen has her birthday the day after Christmas and her mother's birthday is New Year's Eve. Lots to be doing and sending. I think I will decorate my new basket of pine and cedar with a few Christmas tree ornaments and red bows to brighten the look. Time to get out the flashing little lights. And hum the tunes that are part of the season.