Page 158 - People & Places In Time

My Family Christmas
Dad and Mom sometime in the early to mid 60’s
Christmas in our home on Lenox Avenue in Exeter was not as exciting as those with family at Grandma and Grandads. There was always the tree in front of the large window at the end of our living room. The tree, a Spruce into which dad would meticulously splice some additional limbs, making it perfectly sym- metrical. There were large multicolored lights with a mixed assortment of hanging decorations and of course tinsel. I think that ‘look’ has faded, since I can’t remem- ber using tinsel for some time now. Dad, Mom, Carol and I would open presents together on Christmas morning, then breakfast.
The days prior to Christmas morning would sustain another seaming mil- lennium in time of anxious expectation for this sister and brother. As the weeks trudged slowly by, leading up to Christmas; as more packages appeared under the tree, Carol and I would inspect each one in eager anticipation of what we might be getting. Even to me carefully lifting the Scotch tape and gently folding the pa- per away, in my secret effort to see if a particular package contained the Palomar telescope replica I so wanted.
One Christmas morning in 1956 or 57, as usual, Carol and I came down the hall early, before Dad and Mom were up. To our great surprise we found new three speed Schwinn bicycles, a black one for me and lite blue and white one for Carol. Life was good then; I was starting Jr. High and my own transportation was essential to my new status, beyond grammar school.
Following cleanup and breakfast we dressed and loaded presents and more food into the car for the next leg of our extended Christmas; a trip to Fres- no. This journey was to mom’s sister Correns’ (Mansell) home, with her husband George and daughter Gail. It was a small home on College Ave. west of what was then Fresno State, later City College, in Fresno. This trip was not the most fun event for me as Gail is ten years younger and of course I was only ten or eleven at the time. It was just Carol and I with the adults and a long drive to boot; we would have much preferred being home with our new toys.
These times remain special in my life as now most of the participants have passed away. Grandad was first, followed nineteen years later with my Fathers passing. I just can’t remember the first Christmas without grandad, perhaps it was one we had at our house; however, I do feel dad’s death had the greatest effect on all of us. I also believe, as strong and resilient as she was, the greatest toll was on Grandma, though dads’ death was a difficult time for all. Uncle Ralph would pass away next, then Grandma; of course, by this time our family Christmas was done, and Pearls death was simply a small gathering for her service. Uncle Charles and Aunt Velma would pass on as well. Chuck and Cheri’s life has become far re- moved from mine and we have little contact. I see Gail perhaps twice a year, but our lives remain separate otherwise.
Without doubt our greatest loss, was that of my sister Carol; no one could love Christmas more. Unless of course you consider the legacy she passed down to her daughters Shana and Andrea.
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