Write a commentWell, the barn doors flew open this morning and in comes you know who?
But unlike other days, today he was singing at the top of his lungs…” It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, all around the farm.” Now let me say at the onset, that none of us here are accustomed to having anyone sing while doing chores in the barn. But this burst of energy coming from none other than Paulie, could not be ignored.
I approached the boy cautiously, not knowing what had brought this on and asked in my serene Maddie voice, “Is that a special tune, Paulie?” He laughed out loud and answered, “I think I have caught the Christmas spirit Maddie!” “Oh, how wondie,” I responded. And before I could say anything else, he went on to tell me how he woke up this morning with all kinds of Christmas memories bubbling up in his head. Not knowing what he meant, I stood in my place and looked around to see if any of the other girls were interested. Since all heads were in the feed bins munching on morning goodies, I took it as a sign that no one was. Hee, hee, hee.
I couldn’t stop the boy. He went on and on for the next hour, telling me all kinds of stories from his growing up, and how much Christmas meant to him, and on and on and on and on. Finally, when I could get a word in edgewise, I asked him if he could write a few of these down for me and suggested I would put them out to my readers. I swear (rarely) but the boy acted like he had been given a million dollars tax free. Hee, hee, hee.
Well just a few minutes ago, in he comes again with paper in hand and told me that he had something he wanted to share. He thought my readers might enjoy it and told me I could print it if I wanted to. Well, what could I say. I mean, the boy was floating on cloud 9. So here it is dear ones. I hope you enjoy it. If not, please keep quiet. I do not enjoy comforting a man with a wounded ego. Hee, hee, hee.
A Christmas Memory
Thanksgiving is over and the stores are full of Christmas decorations. The Salvation Army has its volunteers out with the red buckets and their bells are a ringing. Luckily the weather has held, and most folks have already decorated their lawns and houses with Christmas lights, blow-up Santa Clauses, and Reindeer all around.
I remember growing up how the anticipation between Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed to take forever! We usually started in school right after Turkey Day to prepare for the Christmas holiday season. With a gob of white paste on a brown paper towel, a pair of scissors with blunted tips, and red and green construction paper, the class would make the traditional red and green Christmas chain. When it was finished, we had enough to string all around the room.
We always had a real tree for the classroom too. It was beautifully decorated with paper ornaments made by each kid in the class. Do you remember stringing popcorn chains? What a challenge!
Depending on the amount of construction paper the teacher had been allotted that year, the room could be a sea of red and green decorations!
But the most important task of all was making our moms a Christmas gift. This was usually a long-term project. We had to make up our minds early to have enough time to finish the gift by Christmas. The choices were usually limited. We picked one, and each day we would take a pause from school work to work on our projects. In the end, our gifts were always completed, neatly wrapped and taken home in time for Christmas.
A week or so before our school party, we would all put our names in a hat to draw for the Secret Santa gift exchange. By the time party day arrived, however, everyone knew who was getting what from whom. But it was still fun.
At our house, the big event was picking out the Christmas tree. No artificial trees at 619 Porter Street. Many times, the half-frozen tree had to sit in the cellar in its stand to thaw out. When its branches had returned to their rightful place, my dad brought it upstairs and placed it in its honorable spot in the living room. Decorating it was a challenge as everyone had their favorite ornaments and the metallic tinsel usually went flying everywhere. In the end, everyone agreed this year’s tree was the best one we ever. I can remember lying on the floor and staring at those bubble lights and wondering how they could bubble up like that and not burst.
Several years ago, my mom surprised the four of us McKinney siblings big time. After all the regular presents were opened, she asked everyone to settle down so that she could say a few words. She told us that over the many years of Christmas celebrations, she had received numerous gifts, tree decorations, and cards that each of us had made in school for her.
At this point, she left the room only to return with four large packages in hand all decorated in beautiful Christmas paper. Jerry, Denise, David, and I opened each of our boxes one by one. And to our delight, we found that Mom had saved many of the presents we had made for her over the years. As each of us unwrapped package after package, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!
Mom is gone now. I miss her. But I cherish the many warm memories I have of her stored deep in my heart.
I believe special memories are what keep traditions moving from generation to generation. Even though we seem to be in a crazy time warp these days, new traditions are being formed every season. Hopefully the good feelings will roll along as they have in the past. Let us all remember to hold close in our hearts our family, friends and the Christmas spirit. There’s nothing else like it in the world!
