I Remember

It was several weeks before Christmas; the year was 1958. I was fourteen, my sister Kat eleven and my sister Margaret nine. I remember it vividly, as if it were yesterday. My sisters and I were anxious to get the Christmas tree set up. Daddy said we were going tree shopping on Saturday.

We were really excited as we thumbed through the Sears and Roebuck catalog. I wanted a Brownie camera; (I am the creative one). My sister Kat wanted a baby doll and some dishes, (she is the maternal one) and Margaret (the athletic one) wanted a Tether ball with pole for the back yard.

We chattered excitedly as we anticipated Christmas morning and the weekend shopping for our special tree. Special only because Mama and Daddy let us make the decision as to which tree to purchase.

Mama and Daddy were getting the decorations out of the attic and my grandmother who lived with us was in the kitchen making cakes, pies, and Christmas candy.
The smell of coconut, chocolate, and caramel cakes, along with the smell of apple, sweet potato, and pecan pies sent the wonderful sweet aroma of Christmas throughout the house.

Mama was pregnant with my baby sister and they had already told us that we had to cut our Christmas list this year. I asked my sisters if they could only get one item what would it be. Margaret immediately started to tear up. "But I want a tether ball." I told her it was okay and for her to be a big girl, that Santa would bring it. The odd thing is that Margaret still believed in Santa. Maybe not so odd because Mama and Daddy went to great lengths to keep Santa alive as long as possible.

Finally, Saturday arrived and we all filed into the car for our trip out to the tree farm.
Bundled in our mittens, caps and matching wool coats, we were beside ourselves with excitement. scampering through the tree park we finally decided on what we considered to be the perfect tree. The man tied the tree on top of the car and we were off. Mama and Daddy in the front seat smiling. Deck the Halls playing on the radio and the three of us in the back seat, silly with excitement.

Returning home after some traveling time, Daddy unloading and bringing the tree in; the yearly ritual began. Daddy testing the lights, and Mama bringing out the Nativity set for us to put together. It had been around as long as I could remember. With Mama's help we put the Nativity together and waited for she and Daddy to get the tree set up and decorated with the bubble lights, colorful glass balls, candy cane and the Angel on top.

Our job was to throw on the icicles, and finally Daddy would read us the story of the birth of Christ and set the Nativity under the tree, turn off the house lights and watch our faces light up.

Margaret still was not sure if she would get the tether ball and kept wondering aloud if she was (I knew she was but I never told). Finally, the big day arrived and as was the custom daddy would wake us around 3:00 am before he left for work. Daddy worked at the VA Hospital and he didn't get holidays off.

Eyes still filled with sleep, we put on our robes, slippers and went into the living room. Daddy hid the tether ball and it was not under the tree. You could see the disappointment on Margaret's face, but she never said a word. Daddy proceeded to pass out the gifts until nothing was left under the tree. Then he left the room.

As we admired the socks, underwear, my camera and Kat's doll, Daddy entered the room with a long box. It was the tether ball and pole.

I will never forget the look on Margaret's face as she screamed,


"MY TETHER BALL, MY TETHER BALL".

To see how excited Margaret was gave me the warmest feeling. I think that was my year of maturity. I realized at that moment, the true meaning of Christmas is Love. It is about family, friends and giving not receiving.

Well, we lost daddy in 2000 and Margaret in 2003, but their spirits are still with us and they will forever be in our hearts.

The nativity was finally replaced with another one but it too has a special memory and place in my heart.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND MUCH LOVE TO ALL!