While posting on my favorite Christmas gifts, I began recalling other special holiday memories. Here are a few that stand out:1. I heard Santa! That's right--I was very young, and my mom was trying to get me to go to sleep on Christmas Eve. Mom was in the room, and I was wide awake in bed. I swear I heard something thump up on the roof--like a sleigh pulled by reindeer landing with Old Saint Nick! I asked, "Is that Santa?" Ever the sly one, my mom answered, "Yes! And you'd better get to sleep or he won't leave any presents!"
2. Hamsters, carols and lights, oh my! I loved playing Christmas music on our gigantic record player/television console. The sleeve of one record I had folded out into this beautiful pop-up manger scene, complete with angels, shepherds and the baby Jesus. It was one of my favorite things until it began to fall apart from all the years of constant folding and unfolding. Anyway, I would play the record ("What Child Is This?" was a favorite song) while sitting in the big easy chair next to the Christmas tree (my mom always used multi-colored lights). One year I had a hamster (forget its name) that I would carry around the house on my shoulder. He was docile and friendly, and I just remember sitting in that chair, with the music and lights on, letting my hamster run all over me and the chair. Perfectly content.
3. Trucks, gingerbread and hungry kitty cats! Years later and living on my own, it was Christmas Eve. My sweet kitty that passed away earlier this year was only 6 years old. I decided that year to make a gingerbread house to take with me to my family's house to share. But then my old Toyota Corolla died on me. Wouldn't start. Nada. I needed a car to get home, so I was able to buy a brand-new Tacoma pick-up (the dealership was trying to clear the lot for the end of the year, so I got a great deal). At some point between getting the truck and baking the gingerbread, I went to my apartment to find that my cat had eaten Christmas ribbon--and shit all over the place!
Wonderful. Except, I didn't know she had eaten ribbon. I feared the worst! So I had to rush the cat to the emergency vet and leave her for a couple of days because I was going out of town and couldn't leave her alone not knowing her condition (goodbye Christmas bonus!). And because of all the hullabaloo, my gingerbread burnt! Darn cat. But in the end, all turned out well. The truck was fun to drive, the cat lived--and the next year, I made a fantastic gingerbread house.
What are your favorite holiday memories?
No comments:
Post a Comment