A Christmas Story

[Sluff]

Just wondering if anyone has some special family Christmas memory they would want to share.

Christmas was a special time of year for my family. All the turmoil from all year was put to rest each Christmas season, which I guess is why the season always brought our family together. My father was a drinker and we would sometimes not see him for weeks so I think in a small way he tried to make up for the entire year all at one time. We would go driving around looking at Christmas decorations and somehow when we got home the cookies were eaten and the milk we left for Santa had been drunk. Somehow my parents were able to give so many gifts you couldn't even walk into the room. We would spend about 4-5 hours opening gifts and practically fall asleep opening them.And when it was all over there was always one more big gift to put that last element of surprise into the evening.

I'm sure there are a lot better stories out there but the reason this is so special for me is because Christmas eve and Christmas day were the only two days each year when I can remember Mom and Dad happy and being together as a family unit. I will cherish those memories forever. I have more stories and may share them later if this topic is a success.

[vandie]

What a wonderful idea, Sluff!!

My memories of Christmas are wonderful.  We had so many traditions that I like to carry on with my daughters.  Both my mom and dad have passed away, and I find that keeping with tradition keeps their memories alive.  We had special mugs that we would make hot chocolate in every year.  We always got new pajamas on Christmas Eve. 
My favorite memory is of Christmas Day when my mom and I would spend hours in the kitchen preparing dinner.  We served all of the dishes on platters and in serving bowls that have been on our family Christmas table for decades.
I have this small fake bird in a birdhouse that makes a horrible tweeting noise.  My dad loved it.  It makes me happy when I put it on the tree.  It makes my kids nuts.
 
 

[Rerun]

Great stories Sluff and Vandi. 

I had the "coolest" cousin and I just worshiped her every move.  She sent up a Christmas present with my grandparents one Christmas when I was about ten.  I couldn't wait to open it.  So, when everyone was busy with other things I took it into Mom and Dad's bedroom and very carefully opened it.  I was scared out of my wits of getting caught.  I saw it was a cool belt and shut the box and taped it back up and put it back under the tree without being seen.  I was still scared that someone saw me but was just waiting to tell on me or something.  When it came to Christmas eve we got to open one gift....... so I opened THAT one to get it over with.  I learned my lesson.  It was NOT worth the worry to waste the surprise!  Never did that again!

[Sluff]

Great stories Sluff and Vandi. 

I had the "coolest" cousin and I just worshiped her every move.  She sent up a Christmas present with my grandparents one Christmas when I was about ten.  I couldn't wait to open it.  So, when everyone was busy with other things I took it into Mom and Dad's bedroom and very carefully opened it.  I was scared out of my wits of getting caught.  I saw it was a cool belt and shut the box and taped it back up and put it back under the tree without being seen.  I was still scared that someone saw me but was just waiting to tell on me or something.  When it came to Christmas eve we got to open one gift....... so I opened THAT one to get it over with.  I learned my lesson.  It was NOT worth the worry to waste the surprise!  Never did that again!

LMFAO I found the closet where the gifts were kept before being wrapped one year and totally ruined it. At a young age it's hard to fake being surprised and not feeling guilty. lol

[Sluff]

What a wonderful idea, Sluff!!

My memories of Christmas are wonderful.  We had so many traditions that I like to carry on with my daughters.  Both my mom and dad have passed away, and I find that keeping with tradition keeps their memories alive.  We had special mugs that we would make hot chocolate in every year.  We always got new pajamas on Christmas Eve. 
My favorite memory is of Christmas Day when my mom and I would spend hours in the kitchen preparing dinner.  We served all of the dishes on platters and in serving bowls that have been on our family Christmas table for decades.
I have this small fake bird in a birdhouse that makes a horrible tweeting noise.  My dad loved it.  It makes me happy when I put it on the tree.  It makes my kids nuts.
 
 

Vandie isn't it funny that after both parents are gone how much more precious the memories are? Thanks for sharing.

[jbeany]

My mom was a Christmas maniac.  We used to tease her that she'd would have decorated the kitty litter box with twinkle lights if she had enough of them.  When we got older, she and Dad had enough money to go crazy with the shopping, but the best Christmas memories I have are of the years we didn't have a dime.  My favorite one was the year we all got cross country skis.  She got used trade-in ones in a barter deal with a local store.  (She used to do all the monogramming for the sweaters they sold.)  We lived out in the country at the time, and the whole family went skiing after dark on Christmas Day.  It was a perfectly clear night - you could see every star in the sky.  There was beautiful, crisp white snow, and Dad broke trail between the pine trees.  My sister and I both had bells on the ends of our skis, and as we followed behind Dad under that perfect sky, the only sound was the swooshing of skis and the ringing of bells.

[vandie]

Great stories Sluff and Vandi. 

I had the "coolest" cousin and I just worshiped her every move.  She sent up a Christmas present with my grandparents one Christmas when I was about ten.  I couldn't wait to open it.  So, when everyone was busy with other things I took it into Mom and Dad's bedroom and very carefully opened it.  I was scared out of my wits of getting caught.  I saw it was a cool belt and shut the box and taped it back up and put it back under the tree without being seen.  I was still scared that someone saw me but was just waiting to tell on me or something.  When it came to Christmas eve we got to open one gift....... so I opened THAT one to get it over with.  I learned my lesson.  It was NOT worth the worry to waste the surprise!  Never did that again!

Sounds like we were all naughty at one time.  My sister, when I was nine, showed me how to open a pressie, see what was inside and wrap it back up.  I felt so guilty.  I still do.......lol

[Joe Paul]

My bestest memory was when the toy "Johny express" came out. It was a tractor (truck) and a trailer remote control (which in those days was with a wire connection). My Father was the head diesel mechanic for Lyons Transportation Inc. (now out of business), and driving instructor for that trucking company. Anyways, I thought Id be just like dad, having my own Tractor/trailer to drive and work on, just like dad. I nagged and nagged for that toy, hoping id get it. Christmas morning, about 37 years ago, I woke to find a HUGE box sitting under the tree. Waited for what seemed ages for everyone else to awake, I must have walked a hundred miles around that box. When Dad finally got up, I ran and opened that box, and there it was, my dream come true. I cant say now how many batteries I went through that day, just backing the truck in and out of the box, and hauling whatever I could fit on the flatbed trailer. Thanks Sluff for this memory, what a wonderfull thread. I hadn't thought of that for a long long time.

[Sluff]

Good story Joe Paul.

[Rerun]

Sluff reminds me of "The Giver"  Anyone read that book?  It is about the giver of memories.

[Jill D.]

Great stories Sluff and Vandi. 

I had the "coolest" cousin and I just worshiped her every move.  She sent up a Christmas present with my grandparents one Christmas when I was about ten.  I couldn't wait to open it.  So, when everyone was busy with other things I took it into Mom and Dad's bedroom and very carefully opened it.  I was scared out of my wits of getting caught.  I saw it was a cool belt and shut the box and taped it back up and put it back under the tree without being seen.  I was still scared that someone saw me but was just waiting to tell on me or something.  When it came to Christmas eve we got to open one gift....... so I opened THAT one to get it over with.  I learned my lesson.  It was NOT worth the worry to waste the surprise!  Never did that again!

LMFAO I found the closet where the gifts were kept before being wrapped one year and totally ruined it. At a young age it's hard to fake being surprised and not feeling guilty. lol

I know what you mean, Sluff. One year I snuck peaks every time my parents were out...my brother and I were "partners" in crime so we wouldn't tell on each other (we were probably 10 and 11 ). When it came time to open presents, I keep hoping to open a "surprise", but I had already seen every gift. It cured me for life. I am never even tempted to snoop since that Christmas!

[anja]

  One of my favorite childhood memories is the year we all chipped in to give Dad a pocketwatch.  The box was wrapped in old newsprint then placed in a slightly larger box, which was wrapped and placed in a larger box and so on and so on until the box was the size of a  childrens' table.  Dad proceeded to unwrap the box while leaning back away from it, should anything live spring forth.  Then he unwrapped the next and the next , realizing a pattern, he became less wary.  He began to believe there was NOTHING at all in the boxes when, alas, something in the little box thumped against the side.  He proudly used that pocketwatch for many years to come while he was a farmer.  One too many accidents over the years forced him to seek an alternative vocation.  He became owner/operator of a dry-cleaning establishment and a shiny, new, gold Timex wristwatch took the place of the pocketwatch.   Dad is 88 now (and on in-center hemo.) but I believe that pocketwatch is nestled in Mother's jewelry armoire.  This thread evoked several wonderful Christmas memories from the farm, I thank you for it, Sluff !   

[kitkatz]

My Christmas memory comes from a few years ago.  I do not expect any great gifts from my family anymore.  I love them, but they do not take a lot of time and care over Christmas presents now that we are adults.  I think a gift should be thought over and bought with the person in mind.   I was not expecting anything, when to my surprise the family had all chipped in and bought me a personal DVD player.  I was surprised.  My girls had kept the secret all season long and noone had even hinted at what they were getting me.  That is a recent adult memory.

[Sluff]

I loved reading all the great memories. Hopefully more of you will share some stories.   

[kitkatz]

Then there is the Christmas morning when I got spanked for something I did not do.  Someone else's children were over at my grandparents house and I got blamed for something they did.  I do not even remember what it was, but I sure remember how I felt to be spanked on that Christmas day.  The other kid admitted to doing it and my parents said they were sorry, but it ruined the day for me.  It is funny how thing affect you as you grow up.  I tried to always remember not to yell or be mean on special days when my kids were growing up.  I always tried to remember that these days should not ruined by silly things.

[Sluff]

I remember one Christmas when Dad didn't come home. Mom tried to carry on with things as normal as she could and just before I went upstairs to bed I asked her to say Hi to Santa when she sees him. I was old enough to know who Santa was and it made her cry. She managed to keep her feelings hidden, at least until I had to say that.

I've always felt bad about that and to this day I ask myself why I said that. Funny what we carry around isn't it. That was the only negative Christmas we ever had though, Christmas was mostly a good time for our family.

[goofynina]

I wish i knew which memory to put, i have so many, too many to fit in this little space.  I, too, enjoy reading all the memories you all have with your families, thank you for sharing them with us

[Sluff]

I wish i knew which memory to put, i have so many, too many to fit in this little space.  I, too, enjoy reading all the memories you all have with your families, thank you for sharing them with us

Write a book? 

[Rerun]

I remember the Christmas when I knew Santa Was real.  It was like I never believed in him and then this Christmas cemented my faith.  I wanted a flexible flyer sled of my own.  We had OLD sleds, but I really wanted my own.  I never told anyone. 

I woke up Christmas morning and under the tree with a big red bow was a flexi-flyer with my name on it.  OMG !  Santa WAS real.  Who else would have known?? 
     

[Sluff]

Cool one Rerun, Now I know Santa is real... not that I doubted it anyway.

[Sluff]

Now that Christmas is here, do we have more stories to tell about?

[Bajanne]

Christmas was always magical when I was a child.  The smells (cooking started from Christmas Eve)!! The new clothes!!  Christmas morning in Barbados is always a fashion parade.  It starts with the people who go to Midnight Mass, then most other religious groups have a service at 5.00 a.m.  But the fashions!!! People who don't go to a religious meeting otherwise can be see at midnight mass or Christmas morning service.
It was always a family day for us.  We didn't open gifts until after the Christmas meal which started about 1. p.m.  Then we had a ceremony.  We all gathered in the living room around the tree, and as the youngest, I had the honour of reading the names on the gift tags and presenting the gifts.
My friends laugh about this - years later, when we were living in Antigua, my father came up with this great idea.  (At this time, I was the only child home, but some grandchildren, and an adopted daughter were with us) He didn't have to worry about what people would like.  He just gave me a good set of money and had me buy presents for everyone, including myself!  I would buy the gifts, give him the gift wrap, tags, etc.   And when I got to open my gift, I was just as surprised and thrilled as everyone else!!
Right now in Barbados, people are getting ready for the promenade in the Park.  In Queen's Park, in the capital, our famous Police Band will be playing, and people will be walking around in all their finery.  It is something to see.  I must do an album on Webshots and give you the link to it.  I will not be there this year as I am going later this week.

[goofynina]

Oooh, looking forward to seeing those pics Bajanne, i've seen other photos of where you live and they are absolutely BEAUTIFUL.    I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas 

[Bajanne]

Here is my link to the fashion parade in Queen's Park, Barbados.  This is from 2005.  The 2004 was even more spectacular, but I can't find the pictures(had to back up my computer so many times, not sure where they are right now).
http://community.webshots.com/album/556605634htRqLT
Enjoy!
If it does not work, go to www.webshots.com and search for bajanne2000's albums.

[Sluff]

Thanks Bajanne for sharing.