First Merry Christmas in a Decade. I’m overdue for sure but I’ve also gone through the test of many fires and now that I’m on this side, I’m happily reflecting on those days of old when the magic was still there in the joy of the Reason for the Season, family and friends. So, in honor of that, I submit this rhyme.
Twas the night before Christmas and all kept quiet, except the activity upstairs out of our sight.
There were sounds of machine clanking and bustling around, with the promise of surprises on the morrow which did abound.
We really weren’t sure of what it was all about, but we knew it’d be exciting and kicked off with a shout!
Once the porridge was consumed and the dishes done, we’d scamper ever so quickly hoping the festivities hadn’t yet begun.
We ran outside to get to the living room upstairs, knowing Dad had a roaring fire welcoming us with closely placed chairs.
The tree was all glowing and bright, and underneath, full of presents to our hearts delight.
For my brothers, train billowing smoke, a caboose and track, a Teddy Bear for me, doll for sister…oh, how it takes me back.
The smell of the cedar Christmas tree cut from our field, with an abundance of food and cheer this day would yield.
Later on, my kids and I would create our own stories to tell, in that same room with the freshly cut tree with wood fires to smell.
Now that Mom, Dad, Carl and Ava are all gone, it’s finally nice to recall those times of merriment and song.
1950 Christmas Morn
1951 Christmas Train
1949 Christmas Fire
from a Friend 
Merry Christmas, my dear friend!
Hey, there sistah! Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply! Merry Christmas to you as well!
Brings back floods of memories . . . most indelible for me being the delaying of fun for the higher priority of photographing each perfect Xmas morning. By the time we’d finally get around to opening presents, there’d be a few tear-stained cheeks. The silver lining is that we danged sure learned how to suck it up . . . !
I guess, being the youngest, gave me a pass from all the tears and tests of man/womanhood. My youngest recollections are most vivid on those nights before Christmas with all the noises coming from upstairs…knowing it was Santa. Later, when I realized it was Mom sewing wildly on the sewing machine to get those gorgeous doll dresses made really blew my mind! They were so professionally sewn! She was an amazing woman!