A Fifties Christmas

Christmas on Long Island in the 50s was a Norman Rockwell painting come to life.

On December 23^rd (Christmas Eve would find mommies and daddies assembling bicycles and placing angels atop trees) folks on our block gathered on my friend Holly Seal's porch for caroling. Miss Clift, our 4H club leader, had provided us each with a little songbook.

Snow was falling gently and we children were bundled into snowsuits and leggings, mittens and furry boots. Our breath billowed out before us as we climbed over thick white drifts, leaving packed treads in our wake. Moms and dads mingled in the background.

Stars winked in the night sky as we gathered before one house. Multicolored lights blinked behind the window and an infant held close by his daddy peered at us through a curtain. The door opened against the cold night and the lady of the house brightened as she took in our crowd.

"Come in, come in," she cried. We dusted off our boots on the mat and stepped into the warm room. A fire roared in the hearth and we little ones unabashedly shed our mittens, rubbing our hands in the warmth. We were offered warm cups of cocoa and pfefferneuse cookies. The little boy in his daddy's arms began to babble, "Santa Caws," pointing at Mr. Seal, who sported a thick white beard.

Then it was off to our special treat. The Admiral and his wife had invited us to their waterfront home for the traditional post-caroling party. The Admiral's tree, shimmering with glistening balls and dripping tinsel, stretched all the way to the 20' cathedral ceiling. Angel hair - actually spun glass - encircled ornaments. The house had a panoramic view of the Connetquot River where small blue lights flickered on the water.

Inside we were feasting. There were gingerbread men and spice cake, egg nog and Irish coffee. The children were treated as little adults and we were led, one by one, to sample the expensive delicacy (and acquired taste) caviar. "Ugghh!" cried my brother Rick.

Later we gathered around the piano to sing "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear," before it was off to bed and Santa's arrival in two days. We slept to dreams of hooves on our roofs and Ho! Ho! Ho! echoing in our chimneys.