Tell me about your most memorable Christmas
Lorraine: Dale brought a friend home from college, flocked
the tree with turquoise and put pink balls on it.
John: 1965 when I got married the day after Christmas.
Marcella: Same here.
Arlie: Christmas 2001. My son, his wife, and grandson were
all here.
Joyce: 1963. I had enough money to buy either my father or my
fiancée a nice sweater. I had to decide which one was getting a gift and I
picked my husband-to-be. We got married 10 days later. The other memorable
Christmas was 1999 when my youngest daughter gave me two bibs, letting me know
that I was gonna’ be a grandmother of twins.
Dale: I was stationed at the Naval Air Station in
Millington, Tenn, not far from Memphis, for aviation electronics training. As
an E-2 Airman apprentice, I enjoyed a paycheck every two weeks of a whopping $38
after deductions. For the two weeks around the Christmas and New Years holidays, the military
schools were shut down. Most of the students in the barracks took leave to fly,
train or bus home to families. At least those that had homes east of the
Rockies. Those that came from the western states could not afford to fly, and
had not accumulated enough leave to take the bus. There were only a few of us
left in the barracks and it was disheartening. We had to stand multiple watches
every other day and had to perform extra duties as well. It was Christmas day
that clinched it for me that I would never be a “lifer.”
The base command decided to offer the galley to all of the personnel or comrats
–those men who had their families with them at the base or near the base.
When we single enlisted people attended the galley for our Christmas meal, we were
subjected to a gross insult. The galley was split into two sides, with the comrat
families being served turkey, ham, lobster, stuffing, vegetables, holiday pies
and all the holiday fare. We, on the other hand, were served overly cooked Salisbury
steak and boiled potatoes. I was flabbergasted. The navy, I guess, was
suggesting to its single enlisted personnel to get married or get out. Incredibly,
the very same discrimination against single enlisted happened the following year
at the galley at Naval Air Station, Agana, Guam. I took their message and got
out.
Janie: My most memorable Christmas was the time I got a
topaz ring from a boyfriend pen pal who was in the marines and stationed in
Ireland. I showed it off proudly to my friends at school.
Jimmy: I was around 15. I wanted a telephone for my
bedroom. My parents got me a toy phone and I was pissed! They thought it was quite funny.
Sue S: My first Christmas with Don. He bought me a blue egg
from the movie ‘Funny Girl.” I still have that egg. The other memorable
Christmas would be when my son, Tyler was born on Christmas eve.
Marlee: Jeff and I
used to go to mom and daddy’s house Christmas eve for dinner. We’d eat mom’s
homemade turkey soup with her Christmas rolls in the shape of a Christmas tree
with green and white frosting. We’d watch daddy’s home movies in the living
room afterwards. We’d spend the night and get up in the morning to open presents.
Cindy: When I was a kid my mother made Christmas very
special for us. Dad took mother to Giladucci’s every year and she’d pick out a centerpiece.
Some were of porcelain carolers, some were angels or ice skaters. Ten days
before Christmas, while we were at school, mother would get all her decorations
out and when we’d come home the house would be turned into the most glorious
Christmas wonderland. My favorite decoration was a little boy standing under a
street lamp all by himself and there was a tiny little dog sticking out of his
coat pocket. My mother always bought the most beautiful wrapping paper and
shiny bows. Each of us kids got to do our own shopping. We’d also wrap our own
packages in whatever paper we wanted. I am particularly fond of blue bulbs; I
think because blue is my mother’s favorite color. I’d lay under the tree and gaze
up at the lights for hours. I’d always put myself to bed really early on
Christmas eve and was always the first kid up in the morning. All my Christmas
memories are special.
Bill: 1965. Our family drove from Florida to Port Townsend
to be with Grandma and Grandpa Arey. It was the time when I learned to tie my
shoe. I also got a giant Flipper (stuffed dolphin) that you could unzip and put
your pajamas in. It was a great time.
Mary: When I was 10 I got a chemistry set. As an adult –
Christmas with Catie when she believed in Santa Claus. We’d leave out carrots,
cookies, milk, notes, etc. Her waking me up in the morning with huge
excitement.
No comments:
Post a Comment