|
 “Christmas
is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of
the homeless should be celebrated in every home.” Gilbert K.
Chesterton, author.
As Christmas draws near, memories of the past flow mightily. Mom and
her sisters took turns hosting large, family Christmas
get-togethers. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins galore would
gather and share fun, laughter, and lots of food. I thought it would
never end. I’m so glad that we didn’t realize that the last time….
was the last time. How I miss those raucous, noisy, wonderful family
gatherings.
The Sears wish book would be tattered and torn by the time Christmas
arrived. We loved imagining ourselves in the perfect outfit, with
the perfect toy. We rarely were given what we desired out of the
catalog, and that was 100% acceptable. We were thrilled with
whatever we received.
Bob Hope, “My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is
very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to
wait for Christmas to do that?”
Bob Hope’s TV special of him with our
troops abroad were as habitual as gift giving at Christmas. It was
tradition to watch the troops enjoying Bob’s jokes and his guests
singing and dancing. Other must-sees were, “The Andy Willilams
Christmas Show…with the Osmond Brothers”, “Lawrence Welk…. with the
Lennon Sisters”, “Red Skelton…. with Freddie the Freeloader”. Always
precious, these shows were all the more beloved as they outdid
themselves for Christmas.
Trips to Peoria to see the large department store’s windows was a
must. Wonderful window dressings of electric trains, dancing
figures, and glimmering lights; the magic of Christmas to every
child’s heart. Some years we were lucky enough to go to Chicago to
see Marshall Field’s windows. It was almost more than this little
farm girl’s mind could take in.
Dad would pack up all of us kids and drive for miles to see the
lights of different farms, towns, and houses. We were delighted with
each and every display as we oohed and auhhed; our breath making the
car windows foggy.
Does anyone remember the Christmas Clubs of yesteryear? You put
money into a special bank account all year long to spend on gifts
for the season. Stores would offer layaway to be able to get gifts
on the payment time plan. How excited and proud I’d be to finally
carry my prized purchase out of the store.
Let us remember the mighty toothpick tree that was a must for
several years. We would buy Styrofoam balls and stick them full of
toothpicks. Then we would build a tree out of them and proudly spray
them with an asbestos, yet flammable faux snow. Next would be
throwing glitter at it and hanging tiny decorations. We’d store it
away for next year so we could once again contaminate ourselves.
All of us would carefully string deadly lead tinsel on the “real”
tree making it a glorious, glistening, yet toxic apparition. Another
beautiful yet still hazardous adornment was angel hair. Applied to
the tree it gave an unworldly splendor to the vision. Too bad it was
made of spun glass and a respiratory, skin, and yet an eye irritant.
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Surviving the gifts was an art in
itself. Creepy Crawlers were a must. How fun to melt plastic goo
over a heater that got up to 300 degrees and pour it into lead
molds. The Easy Bake Oven was a desire of every little girl.
Watching her baked goods rise while a light bulb heated hot metal
parts, creating burns was part of our childhood.
We received Lawn Darts, (Jarts) only to have to wait for summer to
put danger into our juvenile play. Wayward darts would bonk, whap
and bop at will. Made us alert to dangers around us.
Charles Dickens, “For it is good to be children sometimes, and never
better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child
Himself.”
It is our God given right…our duty….to become a child sometime
during the Christmas season. Make that snow angel…ride that sled,
play that game. If you physically can’t then watch someone else do
it and cheer them on energetically. Bring the hot cocoa. Don’t be
jealous…..live vicariously and be happy about it. Each moment is a
present…. open your eyes and see it as such.
“A child of Christmas doesn’t have to be a toddler or a teen. A
child of Christmas is anyone who believes that Kings have
birthdays.” Erma Bombeck.
If you can’t get to church…. like a building…. go to church at home.
There are many TV programs that proclaim His birth this time of
year. There are fabulous books to read about our cultural Christmas
as well as our religious beliefs. The four Gospels are wonderful
reads for Advent. Dive into them. Question them and fulfill your
soul with the knowledge of the real reason for the season.
Make beautiful memories for future months and years. Think the world
is too dark politically, religiously, and full of fear and danger?
Reread the first part of this column. Generations lived through all
the above. Sheesh! Think ahead. Be alert. Get some iodine and
mercurochrome and bandages. Walk it off. Tough it out. Be brave.
Learn what the word moderation means.
It’s great for all your activities, your eating habits your behavior
and your lifestyle. We are not entitled to everything but blessed
with a brain that if we give it a chance, will monitor our actions.
One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is self-restraint.
“Imagine the self-control that one must have to work in a bubble
wrap factory” Pinterest.
“It is my heart-warm and world-embracing Christmas hope and
aspiration that all of us, the high, the low, the rich, the poor,
the admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the
savage, may eventually be gathered together in a heaven of
everlasting rest and peace, and bliss, except the inventor of the
telephone,” Mark Twain.
L. Maxine McQueen may be contacted at
maxmac.1@juno.com |
