What’s a favorite memory from past holiday celebrations?

For me, it’s always been from my childhood – when my sister and I were young and living in Muskegon, Michigan, back in the 1950s … In those days, most Christmas celebrations were on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We got our tree and went shopping for presents on Christmas Eve – tho’ unbeknownst to us, our parents had been secretly shopping (for weeks?)… And on Christmas Eve, we’d decorate the tree.

I remember one year, perhaps I was 7-8 years old, I got a baby doll – her name was L’il Darlin’ and she was an adorable brown baby with a bottle that, when tipped into her mouth, the “milk inside” disappeared, just a tho ’ she was drinking it. That was pretty clever. (I did a google search and “she” – the doll I remember- didn’t come up!)

Before Christmas, my mother was busy making clothes for this doll-baby and when I asked: “Why? For who?” she answered “for some little girl whose parents didn’t have much money to spare.” I remember thinking, “ Oh, not me?” and I’d make a sad face…

My parents were very clever and smart when it came to opening Christmas presents: On Christmas Eve, we – my sister (four years my junior) and I willingly, without a whimper, nary any resistance, went to bed – for the sooner we did and fell asleep , Santa would arrive. Our parents spent those hour/s waiting for Santa, listening to my mom’s fave music -opera- and having great conversation. I knew this, because, being too excited to really “go to sleep,” I’d get up and sneak into the hallway outside the living room where the tree was, ostensibly checking to see if Santa had arrived. Nope! I’d go back to bed… Eventually I’d fall asleep and magically, Midnight came and so did Santa. My parents would awaken us with the good news! We could go see what Santa had left!

This time of year I fondly recall those childhood days, especially Christmas Eve. I think I must get busy and compare then with now. Much has changed …MUCH! (I smile as I write this for it makes me tenderly happy to recall that time in my childhood ). But in the meantime, I’d best attend to the items on my TDL – to do list. As my mother was fond of saying, with a swipe of her hands, “time to get busy!” Ah, Yes!

Cheers~