You write that your mother lost her mother at the age of seven. It gave her the passion to celebrate Christmas. My mother too had lost her mother at an early age, seven days after her birth. Mom was born on December 12, 1931 and her mother died December 19, 1931. There was no Christmas for her family that year.
Luckily, mom’s spinster aunt, Albina, came to manage the household for her brother’s family. She cared for my mother and her sister until four Christmases later in 1935 when she too died. Auntie Bina had a stroke while cleaning up the bathroom.
Mom was farmed out to a paid caretaker’s family because her father, being a fireman, couldn't be home half the time. Being a four year old girl living at a foster home by people that were paid to care for you weighs heavy on you. Her sister blamed her for their mother's death and breaking up the family wouldn’t talk or see her sister for the next twenty years. Her father saw her maybe twice a week for only a couple hours. Most of the time, mom was on her own.
It was her dream of having her own family and having a Christmas celebration of her own. This was her goal from an early age. She grew up, met and married my father, had a family and celebrated Christmas just like she dreamed. The sisters reunited, all was forgiving, and all of us were happy.
My mother is ninety this Christmas. Her husband, sister and father passed many years ago. She is very cautious about the pandemic but her family will still be with her on Christmas in a responsible manner. Wearing masks and keeping a responsible distance as she has requested. She has worked long and hard to make this happen. This was a goal she set many years ago and she is so thankful to God that she was blessed to see it happen. Dreams do come true.
You have become an essential part of our Christmas! Our 10 year old has been listening to your Christmas CDs for years now and requests them when we are driving! Happy Christmas from Belfast Garrison.
I do love Christmas stories! My mother loved it, too. We always had a REAL tree, hauled in by my dad, and placed in the holder with water to help it stay green. The decorating was led by my mother...first the lights, then the glass ornaments and lastly, the icicles. Do you remember the long, thin strips of silver we hung on the ends of the branches? My mother saved them year to year..."Why, some people just throw them on and toss them out with the tree! Can you imagine?" The war years remained in her soul. She saved every one and hung them with care and preserved them from year to year. I miss her so.
Yes, Mr K, the open door at Christmas is what it's all about. Sadly, it's now the omicron that makes us wonde "O-my-God," but soto vocé, as our visitor passes through our wreathed portal, And are they properly vaccinated and masked? But they are there at our door and full of greetings and would-be hugs. And, as you once wrote for a Thanksgiving story, "More we do not need." - Another Mr. K.
I love the stories of Christmases Gone Awry. It reminds me of the story that is told of one of the early president's wives. When seated at a huge table of guests, the 'maid' brought the turkey into the room and dropped it. Without missing a beat the wife said, 'that's alright, Mable [sic], just go get the other one!' Mable returned momentarily with the 'other one'.
That was joyful and inspiring! It will be in the 70s here in Memphis on Christmas Eve and we are driving North a bit to our daughter’s home in Kentucky near the tornado path of 12/10 but thankfully not in it. Two grandkids live there, and it will be warm inside and out. Blessings abound as do opportunities for charitable work. Thank you for continuing to write for us.
I have resolved to not think about news and worldly matters today and tomorrow, and to only think pleasant and uplifting thoughts and enjoy some good Christmas music and some good food. Maybe eat some fruit cake. Some people make fun of fruit cake but the fruit cake that I have eaten was good and I enjoyed it.
Merry Christmas to everyone and I hope that Santa is good to everyone this Christmas.
I was in the process of minimalizing my email subscriptions. I clicked on your email and I am so glad to have you still around after all these many years. I enjoy reading your newsletters and your posts on the Writer's Almanac, but sometime my mailbox is so full of unwanted emails that I can't get to yours. I'm doing some "beheadings" of my own this morning. I appreciate reading good poetry and writing. Let's just say, I did not "behead" your subscription this Christmas Eve. Thank you. Happy Holidays.
Lovely...thanks for sharing and have a wonderful Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all.
You write that your mother lost her mother at the age of seven. It gave her the passion to celebrate Christmas. My mother too had lost her mother at an early age, seven days after her birth. Mom was born on December 12, 1931 and her mother died December 19, 1931. There was no Christmas for her family that year.
Luckily, mom’s spinster aunt, Albina, came to manage the household for her brother’s family. She cared for my mother and her sister until four Christmases later in 1935 when she too died. Auntie Bina had a stroke while cleaning up the bathroom.
Mom was farmed out to a paid caretaker’s family because her father, being a fireman, couldn't be home half the time. Being a four year old girl living at a foster home by people that were paid to care for you weighs heavy on you. Her sister blamed her for their mother's death and breaking up the family wouldn’t talk or see her sister for the next twenty years. Her father saw her maybe twice a week for only a couple hours. Most of the time, mom was on her own.
It was her dream of having her own family and having a Christmas celebration of her own. This was her goal from an early age. She grew up, met and married my father, had a family and celebrated Christmas just like she dreamed. The sisters reunited, all was forgiving, and all of us were happy.
My mother is ninety this Christmas. Her husband, sister and father passed many years ago. She is very cautious about the pandemic but her family will still be with her on Christmas in a responsible manner. Wearing masks and keeping a responsible distance as she has requested. She has worked long and hard to make this happen. This was a goal she set many years ago and she is so thankful to God that she was blessed to see it happen. Dreams do come true.
"the fire rescued us from Dickens so all was well". Loved it. Thanks for this.
You have become an essential part of our Christmas! Our 10 year old has been listening to your Christmas CDs for years now and requests them when we are driving! Happy Christmas from Belfast Garrison.
I do love Christmas stories! My mother loved it, too. We always had a REAL tree, hauled in by my dad, and placed in the holder with water to help it stay green. The decorating was led by my mother...first the lights, then the glass ornaments and lastly, the icicles. Do you remember the long, thin strips of silver we hung on the ends of the branches? My mother saved them year to year..."Why, some people just throw them on and toss them out with the tree! Can you imagine?" The war years remained in her soul. She saved every one and hung them with care and preserved them from year to year. I miss her so.
Yes, Mr K, the open door at Christmas is what it's all about. Sadly, it's now the omicron that makes us wonde "O-my-God," but soto vocé, as our visitor passes through our wreathed portal, And are they properly vaccinated and masked? But they are there at our door and full of greetings and would-be hugs. And, as you once wrote for a Thanksgiving story, "More we do not need." - Another Mr. K.
I love the stories of Christmases Gone Awry. It reminds me of the story that is told of one of the early president's wives. When seated at a huge table of guests, the 'maid' brought the turkey into the room and dropped it. Without missing a beat the wife said, 'that's alright, Mable [sic], just go get the other one!' Mable returned momentarily with the 'other one'.
Dear GK,
That was joyful and inspiring! It will be in the 70s here in Memphis on Christmas Eve and we are driving North a bit to our daughter’s home in Kentucky near the tornado path of 12/10 but thankfully not in it. Two grandkids live there, and it will be warm inside and out. Blessings abound as do opportunities for charitable work. Thank you for continuing to write for us.
Happy 2022,
Jon Densford
Enjoyed your column Garrison.
I have resolved to not think about news and worldly matters today and tomorrow, and to only think pleasant and uplifting thoughts and enjoy some good Christmas music and some good food. Maybe eat some fruit cake. Some people make fun of fruit cake but the fruit cake that I have eaten was good and I enjoyed it.
Merry Christmas to everyone and I hope that Santa is good to everyone this Christmas.
This is beautiful! From an old displaced Minnesotan, thank you.
Wonderful reading this today. Thank you. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
I was in the process of minimalizing my email subscriptions. I clicked on your email and I am so glad to have you still around after all these many years. I enjoy reading your newsletters and your posts on the Writer's Almanac, but sometime my mailbox is so full of unwanted emails that I can't get to yours. I'm doing some "beheadings" of my own this morning. I appreciate reading good poetry and writing. Let's just say, I did not "behead" your subscription this Christmas Eve. Thank you. Happy Holidays.
Thank you! So great!
“I can’t recall another time when beheading was discussed at breakfast.” Writing a sentence that funny would keep me afloat til spring.
Brilliant!