I remember being about five years old and finding among my presents a life-size baby doll lying in a crib that had a side you could put up and down just like my own crib. I was a happy Mommy to that doll for many years.
I remember the year Terry got a radio and Wayne and I got bikes. We were all so happy! It didn’t matter to us that the bikes were used ones with new paint jobs. It was all about freedom! My bike was so well balanced I could ride it no-handed from the street up the drive and onto the sidewalk.
I remember Christmas Eve services where we got to sing all the wonderful songs we only sang at Christmas time. I remember Ann and Lynette, young teenage girls like me, singing O Holy Night without accompaniment and how beautiful that was.
I remember Mom telling us not to be upset if Grandma gave more gifts to one child than another. She explained that Grandma had a tendency to buy things all year that she thought a child might like without thinking about the number of gifts she’d already bought.
I remember making gingerbread men with our daughter and decorating the tree with those and candy canes, and popcorn/cranberry strings.
I remember walking in the processional with the hand bell choir playing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. I had to silently sing the same verse over and over to myself to know when I should ring my bells.
I remember Dave’s parents taking us all to a ski lodge for Christmas where our giant stockings were hung from the rafters.
I remember Christmas pageants wondering which child would flub their one and only line. Like the innkeeper who said, “Sure. Come on in.” Which line would we likely say today if we were the innkeeper?
TTYL,
Linda
