When I was but a boy, like all children, I and my sister Margie looked forward to Christmas and the coming of Santa Claus bearing gifts. In our family, gifts were opened on the night of Christmas Eve. This meant that I and Margie were required to go to bed early in anticipation of a long night. After a nap with mom’s supervision, and dreams of Santa and his sleigh and reindeer on the roof, and after dad slammed the door and shouted “Ho! Ho! Ho!” (we had no fireplace) we were called downstairs to the most beautiful of holiday sights.
From the bottom of the stairs, and looking across the foyer and living room, we spotted warm sparkling Christmas colors shining from our tree, aunts and uncles and other family awaiting our arrival, and a tidal wave of brightly packaged gifts spilling from under the Christmas tree out across the floor. What a sight! And what a night of ripping open our many and delightful gifts.
Now, truth be known, as the years evolved, we learned to fake our sleep and listen for the family’s arrival. And, when we thought no one was watching, we snuck our way to the top of the stairs and identified the hats, scarves and purses of the individual family members set on the lamp table and chair at the bottom of the stairs in the foyer, snickering in anticipation.
What wonderful and delightful memories of a childhood and a time that seems so simple, loving and magnificent now. I only wish that future generations also have such warm memories of their own.
From the bottom of the stairs, and looking across the foyer and living room, we spotted warm sparkling Christmas colors shining from our tree, aunts and uncles and other family awaiting our arrival, and a tidal wave of brightly packaged gifts spilling from under the Christmas tree out across the floor. What a sight! And what a night of ripping open our many and delightful gifts.
Now, truth be known, as the years evolved, we learned to fake our sleep and listen for the family’s arrival. And, when we thought no one was watching, we snuck our way to the top of the stairs and identified the hats, scarves and purses of the individual family members set on the lamp table and chair at the bottom of the stairs in the foyer, snickering in anticipation.
What wonderful and delightful memories of a childhood and a time that seems so simple, loving and magnificent now. I only wish that future generations also have such warm memories of their own.
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