Friday, December 23, 2016

My very best Christmas

This was my very best Christmas. In a big house on Main street in Tillamook, Oregon everything was beautiful and happy. My grandparent's house was warm and fragrant from the just cut tree and crowded with people who were glad to be there.  I'm sure my mother helped put the "rain" on the tree, she was meticulous and would have wanted to please her new mother in law. The lights were low in the kitchen except for the one over the Tom and Jerry bowl, a special one - children were not allowed but there was another one just for them with tiny cups to fit little hands, and lots of home made cookies and probably a ham. All my aunts and uncles were there. Christmas music would have been playing on the new mahogany cabinet that held the record player which had just replaced the wind up with the brass horn.  My parents were still happily married.

The carpeting in the house had muted roses on a grey background and the wall paper was a soft dove grey with a pattern of white feathers. The brocade drapes would have been drawn over the pale golden shades, the ivory pull dangling from a long string.  Soon my grandfather would have disappeared and my grandmother would say to the children, "What's that noise? I hear something on the roof.", we were sure we heard it too, then the doorbell would ring.  A wide eyed child would rush to open it, letting a burst of cold air in and stepping back in wonder because Santa was there. Little necks would strain looking up in awe and then down to the big, red bag. There were presents under the tree but the best ones were the ones given to waiting hands.

As Santa disappeared, my grandfather came back and began turning all the lights out, except the tree with the big bright bulbs that got too hot for little ones who always wanted to touch. In the too warm and cozy room 4 children would be oohing and ahhing and passing back and forth presents that were so different then.  The wrapping paper, thin and soft, would be strewn in excitement, a cloud enveloping children and baby dolls and wind up train engines. Parents, huddled together, would laugh with each other and watch carefully to see that nothing got left unwrapped, and children were sharing, as children did then. In the glow from the tree, newlyweds, they all were then, exchanged presents and tender smiles. The war had just ended and all my uncles were safely back home, a present for my grandparents.

There was love in that warm and softly lit room and there would be for several years to come.
                                                                          
It was 1949.  My pretty mother in her favorite dress, green with pink bows, my aunt, a late surprise to my grandparents - all my uncles grown and married - and my sister with her baby doll. My mother is carrying me, four months in, I would be born in May. There were more Christmases just like this, a few as sweet and loving and gentle and filled with tenderness. But this is the one I remember best, this was the one I loved.

Merry Christmas everyone.
Love, Liv

18 comments:

  1. Great twist at the end. Sent chills up my spine.

    Also really nice narrative about the end-of-the-War crowd enjoying themselves and their family's company after a long, hard time. Merry Christmas to you, too.

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    1. They say that babies in the womb can hear music and be influenced by it. I think it's maybe the same thing with something like this. I remember this same atmosphere at the next 5 Christmases, so I'm pretty sure this one would have been my first and perfect it was!

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    2. And a Merry Christmas to you too, Colette. I look forward to another year of getting to know you!

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  2. The happiest ones were the early ones for me. from about 13 on things were much different in my house.

    Have a Merry Christmas.

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    1. Isn't that the way it goes for a lot of us. But I bet you make it a great day at you house now.
      A Merry Christmas to you, Ellen. Thanks for all the wonderful blog posts and the fun things that you put on Facebook - love them!

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  3. You are loved this one too. Merry Christmas dear Liv.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. Your comments are always so heartfelt and dear, Barbara. Thank you for each and every one.
      And a Merry Christmas to you dear friend.xo

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  4. I am so very glad that you have such beautiful memories. It is a great gift. Merry Christmas, Livia.

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    1. There were few, but it doesn't matter because they were perfect and precious.
      Just like you, my little Birdie. What would I do with you?!
      Merry Christmas to you and a warm, long hug.xo

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    2. That' - without - you. You make life so much better in so many ways xo

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  5. I can almost feel the warmth and smell the fresh-cut Christmas tree in the room.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Merry Christmas to you, Liv!

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    1. You only get a few perfect ones. I hope you've had them too, A.
      Merry Christmas to you, my dear and constant friend.

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  6. Beautifully written, as always, Liv. I will have to figure out how to upload a picture here...your mom is literally the spitting image of my mom when she was young. Breathtakingly similar, in fact.

    Hope you are having a Merry Christmas!

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    1. I would love to see that, Elle. My mother always aspired to be Mrs. Miniver and though she never quite made I'm sure she carried that in her imagination all her life. I think a lot of women from that era did.
      Thanks so much for coming here, Elle. And the Merriest of Christmases to you !

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  7. A memory of family and wonderful love and all quite magical.I love this. You were right there.

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    1. Thank you, Sabine. I'm very grateful that I have some good memories to look back on. We all need at least a little bit of that to get through.


      Women like you aren't easy to come by, so I am also grateful to have found you and I learn something from you every time you write.

      I send all my good wishes for a joyful Christmas to you and yours.

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  8. Whoa. Whoa whoa whoa.

    LIV. This is stunning. I need to come back and read this later.

    Hey -- I know you sometimes go back and forth about deleting this blog, keeping it, etc. But please...I urge you. Save these works. These are so good.

    -SJ

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    1. Thank you, SJ -- you sweetheart.
      Yes, I learned my lesson when I stupidly deleted that blog a few years ago. Now I print some of them out.
      What a year you've had. I wish you'd blog about it. I don't know what brought it all about. xoxo

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