A remembering day

Christmas at the Saunders farm in 1974 with John, Aaron, Travis and Lisa
as one can see Christmas in ND didn't always mean snow

Today is a day for remembering.  If anyone happens to be reading this a warning that it may be a rerun of last year.  So IF you have other things to do perhaps now is a good time to shut down the computer and get them done.  BUT it is my annual sit back, relax with FP and Baileys and smile.  This is not a journey of "I wish" or " "I want to go back" or "if only".  No it is a journey of remembering the joy that God has granted me during Christmas.  I should say that I am not even having Baileys but rather Irish Cream from Kirkland (Costco).  Long ago the need for name brands has passed and now as I near 71 I am more down to earth, more practical and more "I am who I am and you can take it or leave it"!!!  I need to remind myself that the tree, lutafisk, lefsa, presents, games etc were so important during Christmas but Mom and Dad kept us grounded in the real meaning of Christmas with church and the church Christmas program.  And we always read the Christmas story from the Bible at some time during the season.  So with that said I am ready to, for the time being, forget my lame leg, forget any family stress, forget things that are undone but rather relax, smile and enjoy WHAT WAS:

• The space above the kitchen cupboards was the width of the cupboards and from top to bottom  maybe 12-15 inches.  The cupboards were above the counter top in the SW corner of the kitchen and they were in an L shape with one on the south and one on the west.  The presents that Mom wrapped were on top of the cupboards and they were OFF limits to us.  BUT it was fair game to shake them and rattle them when Mom and Dad were not home.  I don't remember anything ever breaking!
• Dad had been gone for some time dealing with health issues in SD.  He came home a few days before Christmas and gave Mom a present to be opened right away.  There were reflectors that were put on each Christmas tree light.  Mom thought they were beautiful.
• Dad said he had a problem.  He said there had been frozen rain that had made the trunk of the car impossible to get open.  We kids did not remember any frozen rain but for sure as we tried to open the truck it was stuck!  On Christmas Eve the truck magicially unfroze and inside was a shiny new sled.  The wood was bright, the runners were sleek and it was super.  It was opened on Christmas Eve but we had to wait until the next day to try it out on the hill by the creek near the outhouse.  Dave, with his earlaps down, Carmen with his earlaps up and Joan spent hours going down the huge hill (maybe it was 20 feet down!)
• The Saturday before Christmas and the Saturday before that and the Saturday before that was Mom's time.  We would pile into the car and drive to Bergen Church for Christmas program practice.  It seemed that each practice lasted hours but as I think back it may have only be an hour and a half or so.  I do remember that even tho I was as good as any of the kids I NEVER got to be Joseph!  I am guessing Mom thought she should not give her kids the best parts or it could be I was not as good as I thought!!!  I find it so funny as I hated those practices but I think because of them I now love to sing Christmas music like Silent Night or Oh Little Town of Bethlehem or Hark the Harold Angels Sing and of course the list goes on and on.  Just last Wednesday our neighbor had a party and the best part was the organ player and singing along.  I actually think that the best part of the Christmas program was the fact that Mom got to play the piano, be in charge and she just loved it and did a great job.
• We sat down to the table to enjoy our Christmas Eve meal.  I did not even have to look or ask to know what we were having.  It was boiled potatoes (not the most popular item), lefsa, lutefisk and maybe a veggie, I don't know about that.  If we were lucky this years fish was flaky and good.  If we were not so lucky the fish may be  not so flaky and a bit slimmy!  Melted butter went over the fish and we indulged in our Norweign meal for the year.  I would spread my lefsa and put butter on it but Dad would roll his up and put a dab of butter on the tip before each bit.  In later years I realized that I copied much of what Dad did without thinking about it but in lefsa I never did!
• I really do not know for sure but I THINK when Grandma and Grandpa were still on the farm we would open presents at home and then drive to their place for dinner.  They moved to town about 1955 or so and it was after that we ate at home.  Dave or Joan or Helen may know for sure.  BUT when we ate at their place it was always Grandpa eating one last helping before dishes had to be done and presents were opened.  After that it was play games or if it was nice enough out we would go outside and play hide and seek.
• I needed a clock in my bedroom and I wanted a radio so one Christmas I got a clock radio.  I think I was in 10th grade.  That allowed me to know what time it was and to listen to Harry Cary broadcast the St. Louis Cardinals or later listen to the Minnesota Twins.  The Twins came on the radio after they moved to the Twin Cities in 1961.
• There was this long package under the tree and for the life of me I could not figure out what it was.  A rifle?  I wanted one but Dad had said nothing about getting me one.  Finally on Christmas Eve I opened up a package and there was a long pole with two places to put your feet.  A pogo stick and I had no idea what it was.  BUT it turned out to be one of my most fun gifts ever.  By the end of summer I could hop on my pogo and go all the way to the barn, turn around and get back to the house without falling off.  Look Mom what I can do!
• There was a large rectangular box for Dave and a kind of square one for me.  My present was Lincoln Logs and Dave's was an erector set.  Those 2 gifts gave us 100's of hours of fun.  I think Dave was able to keep his and prehaps it is now with a grandson.  My logs burned up in the fire.
• I can't remember Christmas without remembering my electric blanket.  I am sure it was Mom's idea as she knew my bedroom in the winter would often get down to single digits and getting undressed and under the covers was an act of heroism.  My electric blanket was so so nice.  On those winter nights when I arrived home around midnight from a basketball game I could hurry upstairs and climb under a nice warm blanket that Mom had turned on for me.  It was the best.  How many kids can remember getting into a warm bed and before turning off the lights blowing breathe rings in the cold air and watching them float up toward the frost covered nails in the ceiling!
• I am sure that there were some Christmas times when presents were few and small but somehow I fail to remember those times.  It seemed to me that even in the worst of times in terms of money Dad and Mom managed to find some presents big or small.
• Of course I remember shopping in Lidgerwood for Christmas presents.  After the Christmas movie Dad would give us perhaps $2. and I would cruise the isles of Dalman's 5 and dime to pick out small presents for siblings and Mom and Dad.  
• One year I went all out, it was when I was in HS.  I had worked for cousin Russel and neighbor Rollof with hay so I had some money of my own.  I had given $10 to brother Ronald to buy me a new baseball glove so I had depleted my funds somewhat. But I was determined to get something for Mom that was nice.  I purchased a picture of Jesus in the woods.  The picture was maybe 36X20 and Mom was so so pleased.  I think she even gave me a thank-you kiss.  

So the memories go on and on and for the most part they make me smile and feel blessed.  I am not sure that Dave, Joan and Helen would remember the same or even remember the events in the same way but at this stage in life who really cares.  I do not have a lot of memories of Ronald and Janet around Christmas as Ronald was 11 years older and Janet 9.  I should mention that one Christmas Janet was home from college.  She worked in a drug store while going to school and her boss had given her a box of candy for Christmas.  She saved it to open while at home.  Some how her boss had managed to put $20 inside the candy box and when she opened it she as so so surprised and happy.     Good times for sure.  

I could also mention that in 1984 my family went to Hemet CA to spend Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Saunders.  I remember the kids saying that it did not seem like Christmas as we went swimming outdoors and the temp as in the high 70s.  What can I say as I sit here and write the weather forecast says it should be 83 today!!!  

The FP is gone but the memories remain forever.  MERRY CHISTMAS TO ALL