A Cheerful Holiday Morning to All

Here in MST it is minutes past four a. m. and at my advanced age I am thinking back to the earliest holidays in my memory, maybe around age 8 or so, post Santa Claus belief time-- the country was deep into the Great Depression (this would have been around 1935). Somehow my parents, maternal grandfather and maternal aunt all played a part in making it a magical time. Fruits and candies that we did not normally have. And I cannot recall a time through those years when they didn't come up with gifts that thrilled and excited us, too filled with anticipation to sleep well Christmas eve nite. And sneaking peeks from the second floor bedroom down through the hot air register. Since there were six of we children even a few gifts made quite a display. And the table was always laden with traditional foods, mother was a very skilled baker and cook, homemade cookies, homemade candies, always took preference over the hard rock candies that were store bought, there were many bowls of store purchased candies provided by mother's father. Jelly like orange slices, bon bons, chocolate drops......and the top of the buffet was filled with bowls of these, it is a wonder we weren't all sick from the sugar consumed but perhaps it didn't phase us because we burned it off with sledding, this was in one of the midwestern states and many years winters were severe, no global warming back then.

For some reason it was a time when I learned what sacrifices parents make for their children. Around third or fourth grade I had a feature role in whatever the school play was in the Christmas program. The streets were impassable except by walking. And the wind was fierce - bringing the chill factor down and stealing the breath right out of one's mouth. No time to be out and about, but staying sheltered. My dad knew I would feel crushed if I missed being in the program so he and I set out on foot for the school. To shield me from the wind, Dad walked in front of me and held his overcoat wide to provide more protection for me. I could not help but notice how threadbare his coat was and tried to walk as fast as I could so we would not be out in the nasty weather so long. But of course it was much slower than an adult stride and the snow pack slowed us down too plus it was quite a distance from our home. We did not turn back though, Dad sensing how important it was for me to have been chosen for the play role. The memory ends ....only a fragment, with another fragment, my beloved Aunt, Dad's only sister had made a new outfit for me with her admirable seamstress skills, I recall the color was solid green, not exactly holiday green but a more subdued tone, the outfit had a bolero type jacket and a dress that looked two piece but wasn't - strange what sticks in our minds as memory.

Now,three quarters of century later the world has changed so drastically from then. It is so diverse and complex culturally in so many ways that one must wonder if the human race can achieve peaceful existence - accepting enough of all to continue on a forward road instead of a destructive one.

That is my hope and there are positive signs if one looks for them. Why don't you decide what you can contribute in a small way in the coming year to move toward this goal of sharing this globe in peace and love.

Joyful Holidays to All


graysmoke


graysmoke