Under the tree

 We seem to be missing a train set...Marx, Lionel or American Flyer from the man who saved Christmas, A.C. Gilbert. Cute Christmas story to be viewed at a later date.

This is not an old family photo, but it reminds me of the Christmas of our youth. Do parents really believe putting the kids in bed early is a good idea? That only made us get up earlier. How about your house...any sleep there?

Erector Set, Lincoln Logs, Daisy, Schwinn, Flexible Flyer, Radio Flyer, Louisville Slugger, Rawlings, Spaulding, J C Higgins, Parker Bros, books...Bobbsie Twins, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift Jr, Toni Home Permanent dolls, Home Bake Ovens...these were some of the names we were looking for under the tree. Baseballs, footballs and BB guns! A puppy!
We were kids hoping for good things. I'm a lot older now and what I have are good memories. Many years of Christmas, the tree, the excitement, the expectations of family and friends.

This week-end Grace and I will have our annual homage to the season. The tree gets trimmed! It sits in the front room now, bare and unlite, waiting for all of the elves to arrive and magically transform it into a glistening, gleaming, shiny thing of hope and joy. We do it every year and each time it gets better. The tree itself isn't the secret ingredient, it's the always expanding crew of elves!

The elves, aka friends, are well fed. That is also tradition. Heritage insists that when you come to a family ensemble good and plentiful morsels must abound! The table will be full to the brim and no one has ever left unhappy or hungry.

We have come a long way from shopping on Washington St. in Boston, oh so many years ago. All of those stores, Stearns, Filene's, Jordan Marsh plus the little "off the street shops" on the lower end of Washington are all gone. Going into Boston just to see the windows and having a hot chocolate is a thing of the past. Now the lights are everywhere, especially along the "Jerry Jingle" highway!

We are not kids now, but we still hope for good things. Less material, perhaps but good. Warm, friendly feelings. Happy memories. Something called fellowship. Peaceful thoughts and ideas. And the proper setting...lot's of desserts too!

Buon natale a tutti!