Christmas' Of The Past

We often reminisce about the past at Christmas time.  I remember my childhood Christmas' vividly.  I was the youngest child, and there was always something going on around my house, so I watched with open eyes and curiosity.



I was a happy carefree kid, and I guess you could say that I was a lot like Elizabeth from The Walton's with brothers and sisters older than her.

One year for Christmas I wanted a blue sting-ray bike, and after opening up all my presents, my dad told me to go to the pantry outside for an ingredient for breakfast.  He always made a BIG breakfast Christmas morning.

I didn't want to go outside because it was cold, but we always did what we were told, so I walked to the outside pantry, opened the door, and to my surprise there was a shiny blue sting-ray bike waiting for me to ride.  I was overjoyed and hugged my mom and dad tight.

My mom had many traditions at Christmas, but she wasn't too original with our gifts.  When my sister got a pair of mittens, you can bet I got a pair as well.  If I got a scarf, my sister would get one too.   But she had five children to think about and did the best she could.

She always put red balls on her Christmas tree - just lights, tinsel, and red.  Through the years, ornaments also hung on her tree, but in the early years, she decorated it very simply.  When she passed away, I wanted to get some of those vintage red balls to remember her, but never got around to taking them.

 
It never snowed at Christmas where I lived, but was always very cold, and sometimes so cold that frost would appear on all the lawns.

Oh, it's funny how we reminisce about our childhood Christmas'.  I have to say that mine were pleasant ones, and back then when we didn't get that much or ask for that much, it seems that life was uncomplicated in many ways.  And I'm grateful to my brothers and sister for protecting and looking out for me........ this youngest child of five.

~Sheri