Christmas Echoes

Canned green beans and soup wrapped in glittery tissue paper. Watching it being placed with other similar tissue packages in baskets that stretched across the school stage.

A freshly polished, silver shell-shaped candy dish that was only brought out at Christmas and Mother's homemade, snow white divinity served in it.

Helping Daddy pick out baby doll pajamas for my mother's present and the smell of White Shoulders perfume we would travel to Dallas for.

Itching from angel hair while crawling around under the tree to watch bubble lights percolate over a tiny Christmas village.

Matching appliqued, red felt Christmas skirts for my sister and I to wear Christmas day.

The sound of tiny bells pinned onto the can-cans under the skirts.

Christmas hymns sang at church the entire month of December.

Sitting in the balcony of the old First Baptist Church of Dallas being mesmerized by The Messiah.

Ladies wearing Christmas corsages pinned to their sweaters and coats...and not just to church.

The annual Christmas Parade through downtown McKinney with Santa as the celebrity.

Marching in the Christmas parade with the Marquettes drill team and always being behind the horses.

The downtown stoplights and lamp posts decorated in their Christmas finery with only the department store windows to rival them.

The Christmas Carnival held in the Jockey Lot off the square and watching my brother (as Alvin) and his friends win first place for lip syncing the Chipmunks' "Please Christmas, Don't Be Late".

Homeroom Christmas parties with Santas made from apples, licorice and marshmallows.

Watching a new movie in the high school auditorium the day Christmas vacation began.

Receiving my first Christmas gift from a boyfriend, bought at Murray's Jewelry Store and wrapped with Mr. Murray's signature bow.

The smell of a real tree enhanced by my great-grandfather's pipe tobacco.

Wrapping presents at my grandmother's using the same bows from years past.

Attending a Madame Alexander trunk show with Mother, only to find Ginny and her trunk under the tree Christmas morning.

Opening my first real Barbie and her trunk of clothes.

Finding our Christmas presents early one year and vowing never to do that again.

Climbing into a warm bed, not being able to sleep Christmas Eve and never feeling that cold, hardwood floor the next morning.

Laughing with friends, family and neighbors as they flooded the house on Christmas Eve.

Going out to look at Christmas lights only to return home and find Santa had came.

Seeing my first aluminum tree and bringing my grandmother's home after she left us.

Running to the mailbox to retrieve Christmas cards...some from next door neighbors, but mailed just the same.

Stores closing early on Christmas Eve and not opening at all Christmas day.

Elvis Presley singing Blue Christmas on the hi-fi.

The touch of my mother's hand before falling asleep to music emanating out of a black, lacquer jewel box with a tiny card tucked inside signed Love Daddy.

Staying up late with Cat Daddy, watching White Christmas while drinking Champagne and reading "Some assembly required".

To Be Continued....

Forgive me y'all this bit of nostalgia, but I have to get this down for my baby girls before the memories get too distant to recall.