As a child of the 1950’s that was reared in a very large family Christmas has a special place in my heart.
In the days before video games and smart phones, Santa brought real toys for good girls and boys, and even those of us that were on the “marginal” list were rewarded with a treasure trove of new goodies!
Every Christmas Morning started the same way: Sleepy eyed children attempting to negotiate the stairs while being blinded by the array of intense movie lights that lit up the room like the sun.
As a result, all of the old movies are similarly themed. Most depicted small children shielding their eyes and wincing. And although the old films were silent, I am quite certain in real time there was a significant amount of screaming.
But the real noise started with the opening of all of the gifts. And even though we received little by today’s standards, when there are ten kids getting presents there were plenty of new toys and games to go around.
The din escalated throughout the day with the arrival of aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents and friends of the family.
Every room was filled with people and the accompanying competition to be heard.
After being blinded by the light and deafened by the noise, we were stuffed with delicious homemade food.
Most of my fondest Christmas memories revolve around cookies. My mother was Italian and cookies were as big a part of Christmas as anything. She would start backing in November and the freezer would be full of the confections by Christmas day.
My sisters maintain the cookie tradition to this day, and a trip to their homes on the holiday would rival any bakery anywhere!
Christmas will always be a big part of my life. And I will still have some trouble seeing and hearing today, but it will be due to the passage of time and the toll that the years have taken on me.
But if I close my eyes and listen very carefully, I will be there again.
Because that’s the magic of Christmas!
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