Thursday, December 21, 2017

Christmas Memories

This time of year my mind tends to wander back through the years to visit Christmas Past.

There was the time in about 1950 when my Dad lost his job in northern Minnesota.  The decision was made to stay with my maternal grandmother in St. Paul, where Dad would likely have a better chance for employment.  Money was tight, but Dad found a way to make Christmas special.

We walked a couple of blocks to Snelling Avenue where we caught a streetcar.  You young ones don't even know what a streetcar is, do you.  It is like a passenger car on a train only smaller.  It ran on tracks built into the city streets.


We rode the streetcar to downtown St. Paul where all the big department stores were located.  This was before shopping malls.  Each store had big display windows and each store tried to have a better display than their competitors.  There were Santas and elves and reindeer and toys and most everything was animated so it moved.  There were Christmas lights everywhere and to a little girl it was a magical fairyland.





Grandma's Christmas tree was a marvel, filled with lights and old glass ornaments she had collected over the years.  She even had some bubble lights.  Remember them?


The best part were the little mesh bags that hung from the branches, filled with chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil.

I take that back.  The best part was Grandma, who laughed and wouldn't let Mother scold me when I got caught playing in her flour bin.  Grandma, who had an ample lap just right for snuggling a small granddaughter.  Grandma, who lived until my 30th year and who I still miss, especially this time of year.

As a young girl, my family always had a real tree for Christmas.  Except for the one year when Dad came home with what was the newest modern tree.  It was made of silver foil.  Looked like several rolls of tin foil had exploded.  Mother decorated it with pink glass ornaments.  We were hip.


That tree gave a whole new meaning to the word 'ugly.'  I believe it went on the garage sale in the spring.

When my own children were young, I had a real tree, cut down from the woods surrounding our home.  There were few real ornaments, but we made up for that with tinsel.


I set out big bowls of popcorn and a bowl of cranberries, gave the kids darning needles and strong thread and set them to making garlands that we wound around the tree.  After Christmas we hung the garlands on the bushes outside for the birds.


We filled in the tree decorations with candy canes and homemade gingerbread men.  I used those small, round, red cinnamon candies for the features and buttons down the fronts of the cookies.  I don't think my kids ever found out where I hid the candies until it was time to bake.  By the time Christmas Eve rolled around, the lower branches of the tree were naked, having been stripped of candy canes and gingerbread men.

It is good to remember those times.  But it isn't about trees or decorations or presents.  It is about the birth of our Lord and about time spent with those we love.  I will be with my children and grands on Saturday evening.  Christmas Day Duane and I will share a ham dinner while the others celebrate with their own families or in-laws.  I am glad that my children have so many in their extended families with whom to share the joy of the season.

I am taking a bit of a vacation from blogging until after the New Year.  I wish for all of you, my friends, that you are blessed not only now but throughout the year.

Merry Christmas!!

26 comments:

  1. My Christmas memories are much the same as yours. We had to drive into St. Louis, but would then get on the streetcars & ride around the downtown area. Eventually, we'd get off and walk past all the big windows with their magical displays ... and always wound up at Stix, Baer and Fuller for a visit with Santa. In those days, they'd dedicate nearly the whole floor to a "Christmas Towne" display. Grandma's house, our house, and all the cousins ... sigh.

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    1. Rev. Paul...That was such a good time to be a kid. The pace of life was slower and the simple things like window displays were magic. I would have loved to have seen your 'Christmas Towne.' Still would. Those times when the whole family got together on Christmas Day is the part I miss the most. I echo your 'sigh.'

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  2. The photo of bubble lights dragged me fifty years into the past, and Christmas at my grandparents. For me that was a Christmas present and a wonderful memory.

    Thank you.

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    1. Jess...You are welcome. I think many of us of a certain age have similar memories of a time when we all weren't so busy all the time. There is something to be said for that slower pace of life when families gathered together and actually held conversations as opposed to staring at screens. I like these memory lane trips.

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  3. Loved reading this post and getting a glimpse into some of your memories.
    I have many fond memories of Christmas times past. Most center around loved ones no longer here. I,too, cherish the memories.
    Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
    SJ

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    1. SJ...As you know, I love skipping down Memory Lane once in a while. My parents and all of my aunts and uncles have passed on, but the memories of the love and laughter remain.
      I wish for you a very Merry Christmas as well. And make sure dog gets a special treat. :)

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  4. Lovely post Vicki... I have similar memories. Streetcar ran right my by Grandma's house. We had bubble lights and tinsel on our tree... and I still do!! (Found the bubble lights online a couple of years ago and had to have them.) But the best memories are of Christmas at my Grandma's ... a lovely meal on Christmas eve, midnight mass that would give me goosebumps and not because of the temperature. Thanks for the helping us all remember...

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    1. carol fun...I still love a Christmas tree with bubble lights and tinsel. And candy canes. And gingerbread men. I have lovely memories of Christmas times spent with both my Grandmas and they are memories that I cherish. It is good to remember...

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  5. I love this post!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

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    1. Thank you, Mary...My wish for you and Mountain Man is a very Merry Christmas and a New Year that brings nothing but good things for you both.

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  6. Except for the street car, your memories are quite similar to mine, including the tree from the pasture. I remember one year that nothing looked very good, so we fastened THREE trees together to get a bushy, well-shaped tree! - lol

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    1. I'm not near as smart as you, Gorges. I wouldn't have thought to fasten three trees together. I just made sure my tree was in a corner where I could hide the worst side. :)
      Wishing you, your wife and of course, the Mighty Dachshund a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

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  7. Oh I remember the tinsel for sure. Boy, that was a fun story to read. See you in the new year.

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    1. Thanks, Kristina...Glad you enjoyed it. It is fun to go skipping down memory lane once in a while. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas!!

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    1. Merry Christmas, BW. And happy hunting for photo opportunities in the coming year!!

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  9. The bubble lights were my favorites and I was sad the year we no longer used those. I still miss them.

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    1. Linda...I loved the bubble lights, too. My family didn't have them, but I enjoyed them at Grandma's house.

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  10. My grand parents had an ugly silver tree just like that. They had a color wheel that changed the tree color every few seconds.

    We have spent time just tonight talking about the baking being done in the days just before Christmas. The grand times we all had getting together. I remember all the laughing going on has stories got told and retold every year.

    I hope your holiday with the family will be special this year, as in years past.

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    1. Rob...I think we had that ugly tree only one Christmas and then went back to real trees.

      We used to bake tons of Christmas cookies every year and gave away half of them to friends and neighbors. I didn't do that this year, but I think I will next year. That was part of the fun. Like your family, there was always good conversation, love, laughter and stories. That's what I love most when I can get together with all my kids and grands.

      Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas, my friend.

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    1. Thanks, Glen...You have yourself a Merry Merry and a Happy Happy!!

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  12. Wonderful memories Vicki! Have a wonderful Christmas making more memories and see you in the New year!

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    1. Jenn...Hope you are busy making some good memories of your own. Merry Christmas to you and your son!!

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  13. Just checking in. ITS WAY TO COLD around here. I wanted to make sure your safe.

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    1. Thanks, Rob...Aside from the cold kicking up the arthritis a notch or two, I am just fine. My apartment stays warm and I have a goodly stash of coffee. Don't plan on going out until spring. :)

      Hope you and yours are doing OK. Be careful. This cold is wicked.

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