A Christmas to Remember

It all started out so perfectly. It was a beautiful sunshiny day; the snow that had fallen in the last week covered all the dreariness of late fall with a new and beautiful coat. Today was the gathering of the family. We were to all be at Grandma and Grandpa Dake's house just across the way, and Dad had said that Billy, Blanche, and I could run on over and see if we could help Grandma (or Grandpa). I loved being included in with the big kids. After all, I was soon going to be six! (Well, maybe not real soon.)

Grandma greeted us at the door and she said that maybe I could be in charge of the entryway. Put all the everyday clothes way in the back and then as people came I could put the boots back against the wall on the paper that I could lay down for receiving them. So I put the boot jack beside the door and then laid out some papers to keep the floor clean. It was a very important job and I did it the best I could.

Wonderful smells drifted out from the kitchen -- hmm I wondered what present I would get. We would have gift unwrapping after the noon dinner was over. I knew that there would only be one gift for each of us. We had drawn names at Thanksgiving. I had helped Mom pick out the gift for Uncle Isom -- as I really wasn't too sure what he would be pleased with (and must admit I wished I had gotten somebody else's name). I hoped he was going to like the nice handkerchiefs with his initial on the corner. I knew he would like the loaf of bread Mom and I had baked for him. She had let me punch the dough down so it could be partly from me! But there I heard old Tippy barking, so I had better start helping the first arrivals.

The next part of the day was fun, too. Everybody of the family had gotten to come. The first to arrive was our family; Mom and Dad and little brother Bubsy (really his name was LeRoy but we didn't call him that). They arrived with all the food and gifts in our dependable Model T. Mom told me that I really had everything fixed up so neat that she was proud of me and thought that now that she saw Anty and Gilbert arriving she thought maybe I should run and play and she would take over my job. So that is what I did!

We decided that we would make a big "Fox and Goose" ring and Billy said he would be the first fox to chase the geese. It was fun but scary and I liked to sneak to the middle and get in the safe spot so I wouldn't get caught. The only trouble was that only one goose could be there at a time and when somebody else came on base I had to run again. But it WAS fun being the fox, too, so I didn't really mind getting caught. (There was always Bubsy who I could catch pretty easy!)

The morning flew by and our game hardly got started and Aunt Minnie came to the door to "yell us in." She had a broom and used it to sweep every one of us so we wouldn't track up the house!

Dinner was scrumptious! We kids each sat on a stair step, with Billy at the top and coming down by age -- Blanche, Gilbert, Me, and then Bubsy. I liked getting to sit so near Gilbert. He had such a good imagination and we could have such a lot of fun together. He was not quite a year older than me but the older kids liked to play with him, too. I think we were lucky to have nice cousins! The other ones didn't come to this family gathering, though; they went to their Mom's folks, I guess ... after all, it was a long way to the City!

At last everyone was finished eating, the dishes were scraped and stacked on the table ready for Mom to wash and half a dozen others to dry and put away. Aunt Minnie got another pan out and started to clean the pans. We thought they would never be done -- the stack of presents stacked under the shelf where Grandma's geraniums were blooming looked so exciting! And FINALLY it was time.

We each received our package, and then took turns unwrapping and displaying what we had -- that made the fun last longer. Finally it was my turn and the package was pretty ordinary looking, no lumps or bumps. It was from Mom. In it was the prettiest cloth I had ever seen; it was soft, white with pretty little squares in groups and they were such pretty colors -- with it came beautiful buttons. (That is another story how that dress got made.)

Now what was about to happen? This was something strange. Grandma Mellon was speaking to all of us. She brought a box out of the bedroom and opened it. She lifted out a beautiful doll all dressed so fancy I could hardly believe my eyes. And this is what she said," This doll needs someone to take care of her. It will take a big girl to care for her so she will go to the girl who can reach the highest."

It took a while for this to sink in -- just how could I expect to own this lovely doll? I wasn't ever going to be able to reach higher than my sister Blanche who was ten!! But I wouldn't give up without a try, and it was then I heard my Grandpa Dake and my Grandpa Mellon; they were telling me, "Dorothy, climb up on the couch!" but I knew Grandma Dake wouldn't like me to do that. So I just stretched as high as I possibly could. And the doll went home to our house, but not in my arms!!

It was truly a Christmas to be remembered! And I don't tell anybody, but I like my Grandpa Mellon better than I like Grandma -- but really I do love them both!

Something for the kids....or the "Young at heart"....

Q. Why did Johnny get such low grades after Christmas?
A. Everything is marked down after the holidays.

Q. If a reindeer lost its tail, where would he go for a new one?
A. A retail shop.

Q. Why was Santa's helper depressed?
A. Low elf esteem.

Q. What happened when the lion walked on the beach?
A. He got sandy claws.

Q. Why does Santa have a nice garden?
A. He likes to ho, ho, ho.

Q.Why did Mrs Claus give Santa an umbrella?
A. Because of the rain, dear.

Why did Santa go into space?
A. To find Comet.

Q. If athletes get athlete's foot, what do astronauts get?
A. Missile toe.

Q.What did Tarzan sing on Christmas?
A. "Jungle Bells"

Q.What do you call a piece of cheese that's not yours?
A. Nacho cheese.