Being mildly OCD lately, I am finding it difficult to just write about Christmas memories without categorizing them, or dividing them into different places we have lived, or extended family times vs nuclear family times or before kids vs after kids and empty nests, etc. So I guess I will just have to write whatever pops into my head and see what happens. My first and most persistent memory is always of my little girl Christmases when we awoke so very early on Christmas day but had to wait until after dinner to open our Christmas gifts because by then my older brothers and sisters were making families of their own and we had to wait until they all had their own Christmas and then joined us all at our house for the big celebration! Those of us who were the youngest in the family were very upset at having to wait until the rest got there, but mom and dad had their way (imagine that!). When all the rest of the clan arrived, we had a big dinner, then the adults insisted that we do all the dishes and clean the whole place up before gifts could even be opened. Talk about anticipation! And, really, being a low-income family, we mostly got the same thing each year - clothes, pajamas, maybe a new doll, etc., but still we were excited. And since we started at the youngest child and went all the way to the top of the list (9 living children), one at a time, it was a long time between gifts for us. Now don't make any judgments, yet. I was only a little kid, for goodness' sake. And then there was my brother-in-law, Uncle Cliff, who always brought his video stuff and filmed everything that went on. He left us so many wonderful pictures of life back then, and pictures of my family members at all stages. It was all a very exciting day, even if it did usually result in some arguments and some hurt feelings (as I remember it). To this day, I am most happy when my holidays are celebrated with a large group - that is when I feel most at home! When my husband and I and our 3 children moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1975, those first several Christmases were hard to deal with. I loved my own children and husband so much, but we were only 5 as opposed to, say, 25 and I was lonely. The song, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" brought many tears. Then the church people took it upon themselves to make us a real part of their families and celebrations became happier. My Lincoln memories are mostly happy ones and it is all because of those wonderful folks who took us in and became our mom and dad and brothers and sisters. One other Lincoln memory is that we usually got a Christmas money gift from the church after the annual Christmas Program. With it we would then be able to go Christmas shopping, and the kids' Christmas was limited to the size of the church money gift. Also, since the program was very close to Christmas itself, we would run down to the Convenience store a block away (Swing In?) and buy stuff to fill their stockings. To this day, when I think of Christmas stockings, I think of lip gloss, combs, candy, nail clippers - things you find in a convenience store.
Now, if I begin to think Christmas in Oshkosh, it always revolves around the Kuglers (a large group) and the happy times there. And then there is Enid, then DesMoines, then Bartlesville, then Custer - I may be here all day and then I will think of stuff I forgot. But all that has ever mattered to me is family, friends, kindred hearts, and remembering that Jesus was born on that day to provide a way for me to know God and to find eternal life. I am, of all people, most blessed on this Christmas 2013!
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Yep, it was Swing In. Not sure what that building is now but it's no longer Swing In. :)
ReplyDeleteMy earliest Christmas memory is of sleeping near the Christmas tree at Grandma's house - the original house before it was turned into a parking lot. I remember getting up very early while it was still dark. The lights of the Christmas tree were lit and the only other light on in the house was coming from the kitchen where I could hear Grandma moving around. So I got up and went to the kitchen. Grandma was cooking or baking so I sat down at the table. A moment later toast with jelly appeared in front of me. I don't remember what year that must have been - mid to late 70's, I'm sure. It may have been the same year I got a Mork & Mindy watch for Christmas. Who wouldn't want one of those?
ReplyDeleteIn Lincoln, I remember lots of Christmas mornings where it seemed 5am was a good time to start bouncing off the walls. I don't recall anyone ever suggesting that Christmas had anything to do with Santa Claus or reindeer, even though I watched all the specials. I knew it was about Jesus from the beginning and I don't recall any discussion about it with my friends. I remember cinnamon rolls in the morning, opening gifts - typically with Scott the passing the gifts out as we went along - and a special meal in the early afternoon. I recall turkey more than anything else - correct me if I'm wrong.
Swing In was a great place. That whole intersection was great. Also had a Kwik Shop (used to be Mobile) and, of course, Goodrich Dairy. I could always find little bits of candy at Swing In for less than a nickel. Plus the old glass bottles of Coke for 40 cents plus deposit :).
I always enjoy the big family celebrations. Lots of great food and a time of fellowship with all the family as we play games and just hang out together.
Those were happy times, even if there were few gifts. When we went back to New York, no one knew what size my kids wore, or what their interests were, so gifts were from the heart - but maybe not useful :) When Aunt Marion began to give a money gift each time we got back, then things were easier, as we always divided it among the 5 of us. Also, the fact that Grandma was always cooking or baking is a wonderful memory, Dan.
DeleteI always forget to come back and check on the comments after I post one. Dan, I don't honestly recall ever sleeping downstairs at Grandma's house. I remember always sleeping upstairs in one of those weird, connected bedrooms they had. It's interesting to me that you were downstairs. Perhaps that's why we never knew you were there, come to think of it.
ReplyDeleteScott, those weird connected bedrooms were where Aunt Joyce and I slept for so many years (one of them, that is) and we were glad to get it because for several years there had been 5 of us in one smaller bedroom with just room for 2 double beds and 2 dressers. We had to climb over something to get to something else. It was a pain for my older sister or sisters to have to go through our room to get to the bathroom and to get downstairs. But, hey, that room had its own porch! We sometimes slept out there in the hot summers.
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