[tony]

We all have warm memories of holidays and family. Let's take this time to
share with all of us your own special memories and special people.

I'll start it off with a newspaper column from the Erie (PA) Daily Times I wrote
some decades back. Our family archivist sends it around to all of us each
year. This year I'll share it with you.

Please add your own, whether its a sentence or a pageful. I'd like to read it.

[swrinfla]

Tony:

Love your idea. We all have so many memories, and I love to hear them all, especially the "strange" ones!

Most of my Christmas memories revolve around the tree, as suggested in my earlier reply to a query by graciegirl.

For years and years, our fresh tree was decorated with great care, often over a period of a couple or three days. No theme, just careful placement of cherished ornaments, some dating from very early in the 20th Century. Lots of lights, heavy tinsel.

And, most important, real candles! These were, of course, lit only occasionally, and with great care. But, how amazing was the sight. They were lit for sure on Christmas Eve, after dinner. Again on Christmas Morning, after brunch and its accompanying mimosas.

Again, on New Years Eve, just before midnight. Last, on Three Kings Night, just before the tree was undecorated and all was put away until the next year.

Had digital photography been my bag in those days, I'd probably have access somewhere to some images so you could see how beautiful a tree is with all the glittery ornaments behind the wonderful candlelight. I could unearth old-fashioned prints and scan them, but frankly am not quite up to such a project.

Suffice to say that the tree was always the center of Cristmas in my house. The candles came from my in-laws, and were a wecome addition to my own traditions.

Another tradition: at Christmas Eve Dinner (once upon a time, a formal black-tie event in my in-laws home), a small individualized present for each person. Always wrapped identically, though the presents weren't. Followed, of course, by English crackers.

I still observe the individual gifts and English crackers when I serve my brother and his family a "formal" Eve dinner. After his many, many years in Florida, it is sometimes hard to get him into long pants, so black-tie is out of the question! :-)

Thanks forasking!

SWR

[F16 1UB]

I spent Christmas with my parents in Clermont, FL about 25 miles south of TV. They lived on the water at Lake Minniehaha in a quaint little 1 br home. Perfect for retirement. Awakening Christmas morning Dad said "Lets go wet a line." That meant fishing. We threw the rods in the boat and away we went into the fog. You couldn't see 100 ft. Once the rods were hung over the side we started drifting. I looked in the bottom of the boat and noticed a Quaker State bottle with line and a bicycle locked attached. I soon realized its purpose. The next thing I knew all 4 rods were jumping, lines became entwined, and the controlled chaos ensued. All of a sudden the Quaker State bottle was pitched over the side. A marker buoy. Well I'll be. We fished around the buoy until the bite subsided then Dad grabbed the Quaker Sate buoy and placed it back in the boat. This scenario played on for several hours with us catching dozens of crappies or what the locals refer to as specks. Most were 12" long and some even larger. Dad said, "You'll remember this Christmas as long as you live."

Last Sunday, Dec 13, while fishing a bass tournament on Henderson Chain of Lakes near Inverness, FL I watched an elderly gentleman drift fishing for "specks". The memory of Dad & I was replayed immediately as I watched with a smile on my face as he hoisted fish after fish inside the boat.

I lost my fishing buddy 16 years ago but he was right about one thing, I shall never forget Christmas Day 1978.

Who would have thought that I'd retire with my bride 31 years later in TV. Could it be history may repeat itself with possibly a grandson?