Memories.

I am sure you all have heard of my Christmas when I had a visit from St. Nick.
You heard of the one where we were snowbound in Joseph City Arizona in the record setting snowfall. 1967
So many have passed and so many memories.
Christmas is a special time of year, a time for remembering old friends, remembering family, remembering life does go on.
A time to renew all we have in our hearts for our fellow man.
Not for ourselves. I can think of nothing I want for Christmas, I have it all. I have my family, both near and far. I have the love of my life. What more could I want?

I will now tell you of a Christmas that was not so great. It turned out great but life was a series of ups and downs, when my Daddy's life was almost over.
It was 1956, The day had been fruitful, trip to the court house square, visiting with cousins and aunts and uncles, Hoping for the little man in the red suit to come on by.
Earlier in the evening, we had gone to visit my Aunt Sylvia, (my Moms sister).
There was a new item on the market. We called them pop beads, You could make your necklace or bracelet any color and length you wanted.
Ann (my older cousin about 15 years old) had been popping hers a lot, It got on my aunts nerves. Finally she reached up and pulled them off of her and they rolled across the floor.
My Dad was devastated.. (he did not know they were made to pop apart)

He got up and walked out with tears in his eyes.
He could never stand to see a child hurt and Ann had a defeated look on her face.
Mama went after him, She could not find him, Any upset and he could have a major heart attack. We knew the last one could come any time.

We all piled in the old car, all eight children and we drive down the road, looking for him.
Finally we found him about a mile away, he was walking home.
As he got in the car he cried and cried. He said, "Why did Sylvia have to break that kids necklace, she wasn't hurting anyone.
Mama explained they were called Pop Beads and made to come apart. Ann was fine and at this point had her necklace back together. Daddy was visibly relieved.
We drove back to their house , Daddy apologized and invited them over to our house.
We then sat and played games, ate food, and the adults discussed the days events.
I do recall peeking around the corner several times to see if it was still OK. I had to see that he was still there. Mama was still there and working hard to made us kids at ease.

Daddy was embarrassed but his emotions were always on edge.
I was scared, I just recall being so frightened of my Dad leaving us.
A child does not understand all the adult things that go on. They just see their world falling apart. I recall a lot of times, thinking one of them was going to leave us, That would not happen, but "I was just a kid, a kid with normal fears, fears that no one could understand."
Possibly this is the first time I talked of this event. We had many of them.
But my Daddy was spending his last Christmas with us. (we did not know that but that Christmas stays embedded in my mind)
He wanted it to be good for everyone.
He died less than three months later, in March 1957.
I still miss him and his tender heart. I still remember he did Love us although the years and heart disease had played a cruel trick on his mind.
So even though that Christmas started out good, went to scary, it ended up with Santa at the window and Daddy back in his easy chair holding my Mamas hand.
It all ended well.
My Mama was a trooper I do not know how she handled all the world put on her back, but she did it with grace and dignity and was very respected by all who knew her.
Only God could control her life and she let him, often wanting to take the reins herself but never letting him go from our lives, or thoughts.
I miss the Old Fashioned Christmas. But lives have changed, I am older now, not the 10 year old child, but the 63 year old child. A child at heart with the memories of a lifetime.
Have a Very Merry Christmas.