I remember long ago we would walk out the door and go over the hill beside our house and cut a Christmas tree.
Then we dragged it back up the hill and put it up in the living room. Usually, it was too big and Dad would have to trim some of it off.
I remember him doing this with a chainsaw inside the house in the room we called the hallway just inside the front door.
Then we would put it in the Christmas tree stand and always had to tie a string to it and anchor it to the wall because it would be leaning one way or the other. Then Mom would begin decorating it and it always turned out beautiful. With those big bulbed Christmas lights and all the ornaments and icicles draped over it and the big tall pointed star for a Christmas tree topper. And I don’t know how they did it but there were always a lot of presents under the tree there were six of us kids.
But we always started our Christmas time with going to my oldest sister’s house usually on Christmas eve where I would get something electronic such as a toy or a game console (Atari) with a few games to play on a black and white Tv at home. I remember one time getting a “Boom Box” this country boy looked funny carrying that around.
Growing up on the farm for Christmas I don’t remember getting a lot of toys from my parents. Actually, I don’t remember ever getting any toys for Christmas from my parents. It was always something I could use for working on the farm or going to school. But I never once complained about what I got. I guess maybe when I was really young I may have gotten toys, but I don’t remember. I do remember getting toys and whatnots from other Christmas celebrations we had.
We would get up early because it was a big day, a long day. I remember I would get two new pairs of jeans or bib overalls for school. I got a pair of redwing work boots one time, I got muck boots one time for Christmas as we did live on a farm. So yea they came in handy. After we were done opening our gifts we still had farm chores to do.
Then we had to get cleaned up and head to my grandmother’s home, a 14′ x 70 single wide house trailer. Along with about 50 other family members. It was definitely a sight to see all of our relations crammed into that trailer and have dinner. My grandmother had four boys and they all had children some were married and had children as well and we would all meet there for Christmas dinner. Then we opened gifts, my grandmother always gave money. It was nice to see all my uncles and aunts and cousins from my dad’s side of the family.
After that, we always went to my other grandmother’s house in the city and had a supper time Christmas with them. Not as many people by a long shot. This was on my mom’s side of the family. They were scattered out all over the country so they would all get together in July. Once I got old enough I guess they didn’t think I would want toys any longer, from then on I got money.
After both my grandmothers passed away we stopped getting together for Christmas. Now it’s just my brothers and sisters meeting when it is convenient at my mom’s house for a dinner and gift opening. And then it is back home for me. We had our Christmas get together this past weekend.
Christmas just ain’t what it used to be.
© 2017 Paul Cox All Rights Reserved
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