CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

By Caroline Clemmons

This season resurrects so many memories for each of us—some good and some not so nice. Fortunately for me, Christmas brings happy memories. Certainly, some are better than others, but this is a happy time—my favorite time of year.

What’s the first Christmas you remember? 

Mine is when I was three. My parents and I moved from North Texas to Southern California when I was ten months old. By the time I was three, we lived in a home I loved in a suburb of Bakersfield.

That year the family Christmas Eve celebration was at our home.  Around twenty extended family members were assembled for dinner and… Santa! One of my favorite relatives, Buster, knew Santa personally and went to the airport to pick him up. Though I adored Buster anyway, this fact cemented him in my favor permanently.

Sure enough, Santa came in loaded down with toys. He gave me a rattan doll buggy and a doll. I remember the look on the face of my 9-month-old niece, Linda, as she stared wide-eyed at Santa. Probably the same expression was on my own face. When all the toys had been delivered, Buster took Santa back to the airport so he could catch his plane to the North Pole in time for his sleigh run. I didn't question why Santa had to take a plane when he had that sleigh and reindeer.  

That's me with the buggy
and doll from Santa.
No snow--it's in 
Southern California.

Santa—Buster’s older brother, Roy—wore a luxurious red velveteen suit trimmed with artificial fur that looked real to a child. Years later, I learned my half-sister, Clarice, had sewn that costume. She was the best seamstress I’ve ever known. That suit was handed down in the family for decades.

The summer before my eighth birthday, my parents and I moved back to Texas. I missed those wonderful Christmas gatherings until the year my husband and I took our infant daughter there. The evening was as wonderful than I remembered.  By this time, Roy had passed Santa duties to my half-brother, Herschel.  He was so impressive that even several teenaged guests were awed.

For years, when kids told me there was no Santa, I argued with them. I had seen Santa and he had personally handed me toys! That Christmas remains an outstanding memory and the first of many wonderful Christmases in my life.

For this Christmas, I wish you joy, peace, and love--and the wonder and faith of a child. Merry Christmas! 

I’m giving away a copy of one of my e-books to one person who comments today. Winner's choice from my Amazon Author page at https://amazon.com/Caroline-Clemmons/e/B001K8CXZ6/

In addition, we have a great Rafflecopter giveaway for the month for our CANDY CANE KISSES GIVEAWAY. This is five Amazon Gift Cards. Grand Prize is $30, 2nd prize is $25, 3rd prize is $20, fourth prize is $10, and fifth prize is $5. 

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