Christmas Memories

We were poor, but my brother and I didn’t know it. Before Christmas my dad would take us to find just the right scraggly fir tree..a wonderful afternoon tramping around in the woods. Old and worn decorations..we were delighted to open the crate and unpack them; it was like seeing old and beloved friends again. The red velvet car was my favorite.. his a bedraggled Santa sled. We always had a present or two..but the most exciting gifts were in our stockings. The stockings were my dad’s work socks..washed and pressed for the occasion. They hung with pride, beautiful to us. One year I got a fishing pole in my stocking. It was stuck through a hole in the heel. I thought that Santa was the cleverest of men. Imagine..using that hole to my advantage! My dad’s boss would give us the same thing year after year. A crate of oranges, something we never had at any other time. I can still see the juice on my hands as we devoured that special gift. I wouldn’t trade those Christmas memories. The greatest gift was feeling warm, and safe…and loved.