Christmas Means so Much to Me, like to Share My Memories

Christmas time comes around, once a year. And during all the hustle and bustle of wrapping paper, gifts, and spending, there is thoughts that run through my mind. Thoughts of past Christmas's, past joys, past sadness, and just plain memories.

This year like all the last thirteen years, Christmas is more than just normal for me. I now have three beautiful children, that I need to make happy and surprised. It is no longer about me, nor has it always been about me. Being a parent has brought several of my own childhood memories into view, once again.

The one I am thinking about, is probably the only Christmas to mind, that I can honestly say, I had recieved everything I had hoped or asked for. This Christmas, was the best as far as gifts that I recieved. It all started out as a everday thing, I would look in our Sears Catalog, Wish Book. I would constantly flip through every single page, so as to not leave anything undiscovered. There were all kinds of things. Big things, small things, and some things I really had never seen before. Now as a kid, we all know how greatly exagerated everything is. Right? We do know that?

This particular book contain everything and anything that would stir a child's ever wanting heart's desire. After all Christmas, was when we all got the very biggest or the most wanted things ever. Right? Of course you agree, you were at that age once also. I wanted a Television, a Radio, and a New Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was now a "semi, grownup", I was thirteen years old.

Now being thirteen meant that I was enabled to get more "serious" presents. Things like Barbies were not on the top of the list. After all my friends now had their own televisions, their own, radios with cassette players. They also were getting their own phones, specail for their rooms. Why could I not also?

I really did not expect to recieve all that I wanted, but definitely, I bragged about my wishes, to all my friends, and had set all their thoughts towards, my getting these things this year at Christmas. Almost like the child who cried wolf too many times, as kids we too, do this about either belongings, or the big house we have or the brand new car we are getting when we turn sixteen, right? This time though I had every intention of recieving my greatest desires, after all I was now thirteen. Big girl! Almost grown up!

We would frequently visit my grandmother who live right near us. She always had fresh cornbread and coffee for us and our dad. My dad's mother she was.She lived in a smaller trailer, and lived with her sister. My grandmother was a great cooker. She kept me mesmerized by her all knowing of how to cook things, and make them taste the best. I so loved her and her cooking.

Now this particular visit, I was getting restless. You see, I was waiting for Christmas Day, so I could get the television, the radio, and the new dolls. This day though, I could wait no longer. I knew that my parents kept our gifts, my brother and mine, over at my grandmother's house. This was so that we would not know what we had or was receiving. And on this day, I went straight to the back bedroom, which was more than likely the spot for such storage of presents, and quickly noticed a very large box.

This box had not been here before. It was made of cardboard. What was in it, had me as curious as a cat. I went to the box, and seeing that it was covered in a wool blanket, I pulled back the cover, just enough to see the words, TELEVISION SET. Wow, I just knew it was mine. No sooner had I revealed the boxes content, then my dad started coming down the hall. Quickly and unsuspectingly I acted as though I was doing something useful, but I wasn't, but he did not know that. Or did he?

Eventually I got away from him, leaving him no smarter as to what I was really doing. Nothing more was said. But now, I knew something wonderful. When we arrived back home that evening, I went to thinking, that maybe, someone else had asked for a television, and that maybe it was not for me.

Man, that really started to weigh on my mind. Everyday till Christmas arrived!

Seeing one of my presumed gifts, I started looking high and low for another one of the items I had requested, but came up empty handed, of course. I knew that somewhere at my grandmothers, there was more, and I knew I had to take every opportunity that presented itself to go to my grandmothers and search. Which by the way, I never got to go back over to my grandmother's house, until CHRISTMAS DAY, figures, huh?

Sometimes we expect so much, we do not take time to see if it is going to be beneficial or if it is within reason. This is true as we get older. I worry about things I never had before. Gifts, and things are not so important. I really do not even think twice about it. Where as a child, getting things was a part of being a kid. Times sure change and people's perspectives are totally different with time.

Back to my thirteenth Christmas. I could not even wait to tell my bestest friend. I had to get on the phone and give her a call right away. I guess at the time, it was a "braggers right of passage". I told her that unbenounced to my parents I now knew for a fact, that I was getting a television set. A big one! She could hardly contain herself. I could tell she was very envious, that is envious of me. Now she was the sort that always got everything she wanted. Everything but a television of her very own, that is. And now she has to stomach the fact that I, am getting a television first!! Hurray for me!

After getting off the phone, I could not help but hope that I was correct with my assumptions, and that I would not have to"EAT CROW." Which had sometimes been the case. You know, as a kid, you would ask for something, and hope it came true, especially when you went to bragging about it. I could not even fatham, what she would say, or how she would act, if I did not get that television set. Too cruel to even think of.

Well, Christmas day had arrived. It was customary to stay in our rooms, until all the adults had woke and were up and moving about. They, my parents did not like to be woke up at any time before 6:00am, and as an anxious group, me and my brother found this one of the hardest rules, ever. I waited with anticipation and waited. The adults, mom and dad were not moving around. I could not even hear any voices, so peaking underneah my door, I thankfully noticed someone moving in the Living room. Yea!

Finally my mom said, "Come on." Finally, the big truthful every waiting minute had finally arrived. Without any hesitations, my brother and I, exploded into the area around the Christmas tree. I quickly noticed all these normal to semi normal sized gifts. Wrapped so nicely. I wondered where was that big box. You know, the one I spied days before, the one that said TELEVISION SET, you know?

My mom told us to check out our stockings, and see what was brought and put in them. Reluctantly, I did. I still wanted to find my ultimate gift. We went through our stockings like a"hot knife through butter", and asked to open all our gifts. Now my mom always made us sit and she would give each their gifts, and at the same time we would be allowed to open them. This was always done, and I still do this, with my own kids today.

Mom kept passing out presents, and when she stoopped, and looked at our dad, asking him if he thought this was all they had to give. Waiting for the answer, about to come unwound, I was. He answered "NO", I believe there is one more that is too big to carry, "we won't even worry about it", he said. Bull, somebody was going to get it, even if it had to be me. Laughing, my mom told us to go ahead and open up our gifts. I could tell my broither, in all his infinite wisdom, assumed that the gift in mention before, was something for him. But I knew different, so I preceded opening gifts.

In all the worry over that big present, I had truly forgotten about my radio, or my dolls. Not even thinking about it, I soon found the radio in my gift assortment. I was happy, but... Then I noticed that there was more, one Raggedy Andy coming up, then another Raggedy Ann. Yes, this was great. Since I truly loved the Raggedy dolls, and had been collecting them, this was great.

With all that I had asked for that year at Christmas, I had received it all, all except the big television. as I had settled to my "winnings, and my losses", dad was scooting this gigantic wrapped gift down our hall. It was it, I just knew it, the ultimate, ending to my long awaited gift. Dad and mom was being questioned by my little brother, who still in his infinite wisdom, thought it was his. I was quick to a reply in which I let him know, I did not get the television I asked for, and I was waiting on. It was mine, I told him, all mine. And it was.

Everything could not have appeared more brighter, or special than at that very moment. I had received my official ticket to adulthood, and independence, my very own, brand new television set!!!

This is one of my fondest memories of Christmas. I will always think back and remember it this way. Something I knew I was getting, turned out to be the best gift ever. Even though I had pre investigated, and found it out, I was so surprised to receive it.

I think this is how Christmas should be in the eyes of our children. I think it should be the most memorable of times. Not only should we truly be amazed at receiving, and giving, we should remeber the reason for the Christmas Season to begin with, our loving and self sacrificing SAVIOR"S BIRTH!

Hope to all that this Christmas, you make new memories, re-hash fond memories, and help to show love towards every soul. Merry Christmas, everyone, Merry Christmas indeed.