December 13
December 13
My most vivid memories of a past Christmas tradition involve my wife’s family gatherings on Christmas mornings in southwestern Missouri. My brother-in-law Guy usually requested waffles for breakfast and he usually got his wish. My mother-in-law Ethel added strawberries from the summer garden which had been made into preserves. Guy and his wife Karen were traditionally late and Ethel would try to retain her composure because she valued being on time – and they didn’t. Her husband Lawrence would tease her about “fretting.” Of course, when Guy and his family arrived all was forgiven and we were soon ready for breakfast. Guy and Karen would bring in gifts to put under the small cedar tree that had been carefully selected from the nearby woods. After the delicious breakfast, we would be more than filled and it was time to distribute the gifts from under the tree. Usually one of my nieces would take on the role of Santa and distribute the gifts to everyone. Years later, after my nieces married and had children of their own, one of the kids would carry on the tradition of distributing the gifts. The two nieces had five children, four boys and one girl, so there were many gifts to distribute to the “grands” (grandsons and granddaughter) as well as to the adults. The small living floor would soon become filled with ribbons, bows, and wrapping paper as gifts were ripped open with glee. As they opened their gifts, the adults would examine their new clothes or books or whatever they had received and chuckle with enjoyment. The children would begin playing with their new toys or trying on their new clothes. Sometimes the squeals of excitement were only surpassed by the noisy banging of the new Tonkas which had been turned into hammers. After all the gift wrappings had been removed and the bows saved for next year, Ethel would then pick up the "debris" which would be added to the wood burning stove in the corner. The women would then be on to the next chore of the day, preparing the meal which was usually a sumptuous, multi-course dinner at Guy’s home, a quarter mile away on the gravel road.
Bruce Gelvin
,
My most vivid memories of a past Christmas tradition involve my wife’s family gatherings on Christmas mornings in southwestern Missouri. My brother-in-law Guy usually requested waffles for breakfast and he usually got his wish. My mother-in-law Ethel added strawberries from the summer garden which had been made into preserves. Guy and his wife Karen were traditionally late and Ethel would try to retain her composure because she valued being on time – and they didn’t. Her husband Lawrence would tease her about “fretting.” Of course, when Guy and his family arrived all was forgiven and we were soon ready for breakfast. Guy and Karen would bring in gifts to put under the small cedar tree that had been carefully selected from the nearby woods. After the delicious breakfast, we would be more than filled and it was time to distribute the gifts from under the tree. Usually one of my nieces would take on the role of Santa and distribute the gifts to everyone. Years later, after my nieces married and had children of their own, one of the kids would carry on the tradition of distributing the gifts. The two nieces had five children, four boys and one girl, so there were many gifts to distribute to the “grands” (grandsons and granddaughter) as well as to the adults. The small living floor would soon become filled with ribbons, bows, and wrapping paper as gifts were ripped open with glee. As they opened their gifts, the adults would examine their new clothes or books or whatever they had received and chuckle with enjoyment. The children would begin playing with their new toys or trying on their new clothes. Sometimes the squeals of excitement were only surpassed by the noisy banging of the new Tonkas which had been turned into hammers. After all the gift wrappings had been removed and the bows saved for next year, Ethel would then pick up the "debris" which would be added to the wood burning stove in the corner. The women would then be on to the next chore of the day, preparing the meal which was usually a sumptuous, multi-course dinner at Guy’s home, a quarter mile away on the gravel road.
Bruce Gelvin
,
posted by Pastor Stan | 7:13 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home