Christmas Season is always filled with memories, especially from your childhood. There is the magic of Santa coming down your chimney, and stockings hung by the fire. Even if your home did not have a fireplace, your memory seems authentic: The smell of a fresh pine tree decorated with ornaments you made in school. Smelling the fruitcake baking and knowing that it won’t be cut until Christmas Day. Singing “Up on the Roof Top” and “Jingle Bells” with your class and the sacredness of your church organ playing “Silent Night”. I will stop the memories list so you may add your own. If you are not one of us who walked around the square, “Rudolph” had not yet arrived.
As we grow away from childhood, we remember the joyful warm feeling of giving to others. You might have saved up your nickels and dimes to buy a Pyrex bowl from the Five & Ten for your mother. You wrapped in Christmas paper you sneaked from her supply, and watched her happiness when she opened Christmas morning. Even if she might have a dozen such bowls, she cherished the gift.
When I was living in Atlanta, riding home on the Nancy Hanks was the beginning of the festivities. Many friends who were in college or working in or near Atlanta boarded with us there. At every stop along the way to our destination of Wadley, more folks headed home joined. Macon filled many seats with students from Mercer, Wesleyan and nearby colleges. We had glad reunions continually and strolled the aisles from car to car to see who was on board. I’m sure we were quite disturbing to other passengers but excused for holidays. I kept a large crowd around me, because I was taking home an unusual unwrapped gift for my mother. I was now earning money with a part-time job and could give her a better gift than ever before. She had lived alone since our aged dog passed to his reward. I wanted to give her a new pet and decided a bird would be a good companion. Picture this, I was going home by train with a parakeet in a cage. As word spread down the aisles, I had many visitors. I gave her the gift immediately when arriving and after a few days of adjustment to the new pet, she was delighted. The bird was good company until she started letting it out of the cage to fly around in the house. One day when it saw an open slot in the door it flew right out and did not return. I think she had mixed emotions about no longer owning a bird. As you shop, think carefully before buying a pet for a loved one. Write to Shirley at sptwiss@g.mail.com.
