When I was little, we didn’t really have many Christmas
traditions. We were in a Chicago
suburb. All the rest of the family was
in St. Paul , MN
I don’t remember Christmas dinners but I’m sure that Mom
served something that was a tradition for her. As a kid, I wasn’t a foodie.
We’d go to Midnight Mass and then to bed; and I’d try to get
to sleep quickly so that Christmas morning would arrive
Before I entered first grade, Mom explained the truth about
Santa because she was concerned that other kids would spoil it for me if I
still believed. I was sworn to secrecy
so as not to ruin Christmas for a true believer. Even so, no gifts appeared under the tree
before Christmas except those that were received from far away relatives.
Knowing about Santa didn’t diminish my anticipation. There was always something special under the
tree on that fantastic morning.
From about second grade on, I asked every year for a
Chemistry Set. But Mom was afraid I’d burn down the house so it never arrived.
One year was the electric train – a great Lionel train set. I
loved it and Dad let me think it was mine.
It DID have my name on the gift tag.
There were building blocks and an erector set.
There was a record player with an album with the story of
Johnny Appleseed narrated and sung by Dennis Day. I sobbed at the end when Johnny went to his
heavenly reward.
There were Nancy Ann Storybook dolls. One year there was a
beautiful Alice in Wonderland doll
complete with a gorgeous coat with a Persian Lamb collar made by Mom who was an
accomplished seamstress.
There was a 26 inch blue and cream Schwinn bike for a 7 year
old girl. I’d grow into it. It had a headlight and a battery powered
horn. But no training wheels. Dad taught me to ride.
Dad was a machinist at an International Harvester tractor
factory. My folks counted every penny.
They spent a lot of those precious pennies on me at Christmas.
I was a very lucky little girl.
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