Christmas memories

IT’S ALL ABOUT

As we made our way to Marshall, emotions flooded my mind about Christmases past…growing up, old houses, ornaments, house tours and family.

Probably at this time of year my mom takes the biggest part of my memory as it relates to Christmas. I was always asking her to tell stories to me as she had an incredible memory of all things past!

One particular history she relayed was when she and her best seamstress friend had been sewing and sewing and sewing doll clothes for weeks so my best friend and I could continue our favorite past time of playing with dolls. She and Mrs. S. had bought identical big “walking” dolls for us, and were totally invested in making a complete wardrobe for our dolls.

I was 11 at the time and on Christmas Eve as mom was tucking me in and we were saying my prayers, I whispered to her “I hope Santa doesn’t bring me a doll this year. I’m getting too old for dolls”! You can only imagine how that must have cut into her heart.

Well, Santa did have a doll for me in his sleigh with a very COMPLETE wardrobe. I don’t remember exactly my sentiments looking at my Santa presents, but my guess is that I played with dolls for at least another year!

Yesterday I spoke to my mom’s next-door neighbor (to the Ghost house) and she told me how Christmas is such a special time for her. This year she had already decorated four huge trees with ornaments from years past.

Taking her time and with great pains, she unwraps each ornament carefully and recalls its story; where it came from, who gave it to her, and remembers any special occasion or memory associated with each unique piece.

At the end of the Christmas season the same process is done again as she carefully wraps each ornament individually for storing away and once again recalls its history!

She said mom had given her White House ornaments each year for about 12 years and, I can attest, each ornament is ornate and unique as various Presidents pass through the White House.

The ornaments are definitely worth studying and admiring again and again every year. She too fondly remembers mom and how much she loved Christmas. If you have never Googled “White House Ornaments” please take a look. They are beautiful.

At Christmas time we were always decorated to the hilt no matter where we were. If it was Grannie’s house it was a trip to the woods to cut down a real pine tree that smelled so heavenly and was decorated with strands of fresh popcorn and dried cranberries while all the cousins sang Christmas carols and drank hot cocoa with marsh mellows.

Those were special times and memories as we hung our stockings and waited for Santa Claus.

The old 1883 “Ghost” house in Marshall was on the Holiday of Lights tour for several years and there was plenty to decorate as it had 12 fireplaces! That takes a lot of stockings!!

The parlor always had a 12-14 ft tree where the tour would begin, decorated as it would have been in the late 1800’s.

Mom researched the décor and we went to every yard in a 4-block radius and gathered all the dead dried hydrangea blossoms we could find. Sometimes it was late at night and we laughed saying we hoped the owners didn’t catch us swiping their dead flowers!

Once home, dad had to spray paint those old dried up flowers with pink, baby blue and beige paint. But, once the tree was decorated with the appropriate period paraphernalia, including old antique lace bows, it was indeed beautiful and was always the photo spot where thousands of pictures were snapped on the historic home tour.

Not only are there traditional Christmases but some people have unique ways of recognizing the holiday season. Traveling north of Marshall we discovered a humongous hay bale painted like a Christmas tree ornament and a Rudolph hay bale sitting close by.

Initially we thought it might have been a giant dynamite bomb, thus we had to stop and check it out…but upon closer inspection realized it was indeed an ornament. What a cute festive idea and so creative!

Pay attention as you travel on Hwy 59 this year.

This is an extremely important and special time of year. It’s thought provoking, religious and a time to cherish life.

We continue to make memories with decorations, trees, parties, great friends and taking communion on Christmas Eve.

Please take a moment to reflect upon your life and special times that have happened along the way….maybe an event…a birth, marriage, or memorable occasion.

And be thankful that another celebration of Christmas is a part of continuing those special memories.