On a mild December evening with an enormous supermoon lighting our way,
Ron and I took our little dog, Roxy, for a walk in our neighborhood.
The houses on our street glittered and created a festive holiday feeling.
Ron and I both remembered the family piling into the car
to drive to the "ritzy" part of town to view the lights,
oohing and ahhing as if they were fireworks.
Compared to the intricate displays today, they probably weren't all that amazing
but to us, they were magical.
Today we keep our lights pretty simple with a string of twinkly lights on our fence.
Today we keep our lights pretty simple with a string of twinkly lights on our fence.
I also remembered the arrival of our Christmas tree every Christmas Eve.
It was a family tradition to wait until the night before Christmas to decorate our tree.
Dad would drive down to the corner gas station and buy a tree.
Then, pushing and pulling it through our front door, we'd set it in its metal holder,
turning it this way and that until it looked its best or at least straight.
Ron said he remembered how the tree lot smelled.
Growing up in Oklahoma where there weren't any pine trees,
he thought the smell of fresh pine was different and wonderful.
He also mentioned those Christmas novelty songs they played on the radio.
I remember them too especially that Chipmunk song (Alvin!) that they played over and over,
no doubt driving our poor parents crazy.
Do you remember those strings of different-colored lights
when if one light went out, the whole string died?
And carefully placing each individual aluminum icicle on the tree?
Time consuming but definitely worth it.
After the tree was decorated, Mom would sing Silent Night in her clear deep voice
and my sister and I would go upstairs to bed while Mom and Dad
brought our presents out from their hiding places to put under the tree.
It was hard to go to sleep when we kept hearing noises that sounded like reindeer on our roof.
Here's a picture of me (left) and my sister with Santa in the 1950s
about to give him our wish lists.
I never did get that pony!
Here's a picture of me (left) and my sister with Santa in the 1950s
about to give him our wish lists.
I never did get that pony!
Christmas morning we waited impatiently for our grandparents to arrive so we could tear open
the wrapping paper on our presents. I remember a slinky, play dough, and a battery-operated bear
that drank a bottle of Pepsi. (I see those in antique stores now!)
Santa always brought my sister and me matching PJs.
Ron loved his model airplane kits, Lincoln Logs and little soldiers.
Seems Christmas then was more simple and less stressful than it is today.
I'd love to hear about your treasured childhood Christmas memories.
We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year!
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***
If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you'll follow me by email.
Just subscribe (it's FREE) in the upper right column of this page.
You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see all my favorite photos.
Thank you!!
***
Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Little Farmstead, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style, A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,
21 Rosemary Lane, Petite Haus, French Country Cottage