Your Favorite Christmas?

Back a few entries ago I asked you all what your favorite Christmas memory was. And I asked if you would post it and then share the url with me. So, what did you come up with?

Thanks, Lessa, for sharing your favorite. That brought back some happy memories for me, too.

I've had some memorable Christmases, but I would have to say that the one that comes to mind the easiest when I think of favorites happened some 50 years ago when I was about 5 - may have been the year I was 6, though. I remember clearly which rent house we were living in at the time, so I know it had to be about that time.

Times were tough - money was tight. That was usually the way it was when I was young. Daddy seldom kept a job long for a variety of reasons.

But that Christmas was a bit tougher for my sister and me because we were home sick with some childhood illness. I want to say measles, but can't quite recall. I just remember I was unable to go to the school Christmas party nor the family Christmas party.

You see, Dad was one of 13 children in a tight knit Irish family. Every year they had a family party, drawing names because they all had at least 2 kids - most had more than that - and it would have been really hard to buy for everyone. We would all get together at the church basement and "Santa" would even come to visit us to hand out the presents.

That year we were quarantined. Poor Mom. I think she finally destroyed the record sis and I insisted on playing over and over and OVER again . . . I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause . . .

Then a few days before Christmas a knock came at our door - and "Santa" was there replete in scarlet and white finery and a pack on "his" back. Sis and I had been remembered after all and we even got a personal visit from the main man. (We didn't realize until years later that the family santa was portrayed year after year by one of Dad's sisters, Aunt Ruth Redd)

But the topper of Christmas was when we came downstairs that morning to find a treasure under our tree. Without money Mom had despaired of what to give her girls. So she had stayed up late into the night for weeks hand stitching new outfits for our dolls. And, there, under the tree were our dolls - all lined up - and each dressed in new finery. Even then I knew it was a special gift.

Later I found out how much it had cost my Mom. She caused severe strain to her eyes and had to wear patches and dark glasses for several weeks after.

She had a big heart - she had a great love for us girls. I miss her more each year as I watch my own girls and their broods.
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Illnesses seem to come at Christmas time, don't they? Lessa's first Christmas was one such time. She was burning with fever and I have a photo of the two of us sitting on the floor. She has that icky sicky sad baby look about her and I have the tired, worried mommy "don't you DARE point that camera at me again" look about me.

She was nine months old - teething - nothing serious, but oh so scary to a first time mommy.
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And, today I came home from work early - my voice had just given out and hardly anyone could understand me. I've had a touch of something that I am trying to keep out of my chest and the frog in the throat and constant clearing of said frog has resulted in the hoarseness.

So, I wrapped gifts all afternoon - and watched movies - Miracle on 34th Street. First the original and then the remake. I like them both.
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And, now it is your turn to share your memories. Email your url and I will post it. prplmoose AT kenaiwriter DOT net.

Posted by Purplemoose at December 21, 2005 01:56 AM