Memories of Christmas past...

Today, I drove to a large mall to pick up my picture window shade that had been restrung. A couple of things surprised me. The first thing was that I got the telephone call telling me that it was ready at 715AM. It must be because with Christmas hours being 7AM through midnight[!], time becomes a nebulous thing. Happy to be able to get that pleated shade back in its place, I drove 45 minutes in less than desirable weather. The drive didn't scare me...it was some of the other drivers who were riding my tail or passing me when visibility wasn't good.
I was surprised at how many people were shopping. So much stuff...

Christmas really is for kids and family. Speaking of that, my son will be here on Wednesday and I look forward to seeing his face...especially when he opens his gift. He would never expect or guess what it is. Thinking back over the years, I can still see the Scooby Doo sleeping bag that was a big hit. And books, and records, and puzzles.


Matchbook cars...And when he was about 6 years, Jer got a blue jeep and his best buddy Nick got a red convertible -the kind that you had to peddle to make it go- and the fun of watching them peddle around a local park was priceless!



Hands down winner of all: It was the 2 volume scrapbook that I spent the
entire month of December recreating my son's entire life in his "A Star is Born" albums. It detailed pre- birth through graduation from high school, and it included his college acceptance letters, too. It was a labor of love [and almost as exhausting as the other labor that he was involved in.]

It was the same Christmas that Jer and I drove to NJ to my mom's house,
and as we got closer and closer, I felt sicker and sicker. Immediately upon arriving, I climbed into bed, missed all the holiday festivities, and wound up in the emergency room on Christmas Day with strep. And if that wasn't enough unnecessary roughness, 24 hours later was the moment that my body decided to react to the penacillin that was prescribed to fight the infection. And since I didn't have a doctor in NJ and no one would treat a non-patient, my only option was to call my doctor in NY and ask him to call in a different prescription to a NJ pharmacy so that I could get well enough to drive back to NY...a memorable weekend, for sure.

To end on a more positive note, my favorite childhood memory was the year that I received those 'Melody Bells' that I was so desiring!! {See, my musical background goes back a long way!!} I remember that on the way home from a store, the bags in the trunk of the car must have shifted, and I was sure that I had heard a lone bell's ring. But I was told,"No way! Not possible." And back then, at the age of 7, there was no arguing with your parents. So imagine my glee, when on Christmas morning, Melody Bells were a'ringin as I shook that package before opening it! Oh, what joy! Maybe not for everyone else, but 'hey, that's life!!'
As Christmases come and go, some are more memorable than others. But just as in baseball... you win some, you lose some, and some get rained out...But you get dressed for all of 'em.
So...Merry Christmas everyone! And may this be your "Melody Bell" year, too!!