CHRISTMAS REMEMBRANCES
Christmas was always fun when I was growing up. My folks made Christmas a big thing not in the number of things that we received but in the way they approached the season. There was always lots of music both sung and played, lots of stories were told and goodies were made for us and for others. My parents like to develop the atmosphere of suspense and wonder as the season approached.
Stories about the birth of Jesus were told and read as often as the "Night Before Christmas." Decorations were few when I was a child mostly just a Christmas tree with lights and homemade decorations. It wasn't until after World War II that I remember anything other than a tree.
But the Christmas that sticks out in my mind the most when I was a child was the first Christmas after Pearl Harbor. Pop had been in the ROTC while at the University of Utah and upon graduation it was required of him to serve a period of time in active duty. So in August of 1941 he went to Fort Ord, California to start his year or so of service. My mother, sister Barbara and my self joined him shortly there after. Which meant that we were living in California at the time of Pearl Harbor, which is another story.
Pearl Harbor happened on the 7th of December, 1941 and Pop left that same day and the only communication from him was an occasional phone call and a letter or two. We saw Pop only once in the next three or so weeks. Santa came as usual on Christmas Eve but we decided to leave every thing unopened until Pop was able to be with us we didn't even open gifts that came from our grandparents in Utah.
Pop was able to get an overnight pass on the 28th of December and at that time we opened our gifts. Barbara and my gifts from Santa were dolls and buggies. I was so happy to have Pop with us that I don't remember anything else we received.
Other Christmas' that I remember are many and some stand out more than others.
Jim and my first Christmas as a married couple is one I remember well. We were in Olympia, Washington. Jim was in the Army and I was pregnant. We hung our stockings on the wall and a little stocking was hung along side announcing that we were expecting a little one in the summer. We spent Christmas day with the Anderson family along with other service couples. It snowed that day which was unusual for Olympia. The day before Christmas we went to a movie and saw "White Christmas" which had just been released (I believe) that year. That is perhaps why I like to watch "White Christmas" each year. It cost us 25 cents each to see the show.
The traditions that we had in the Rushforth family were carried over from things that were done while I was a child. Like having a big dinner on Christmas Eve, sitting on the floor and each taking turns to bring the gifts that they were giving while ringing bells so everyone could close their eyes and act surprised when they opened their eyes, reading the story from Luke about Jesus' birth, and kneeling and having family prayer. Christmas morning we insisted that the children had something in the tummies, egg nog or pie, before we started opening presents. The mornings were always fun and drawn out to last a good part of the morning. We sat on the floor and took turns opening gifts and quite often stopped to have some pie and put a gift together. I loved that our children like to spend the day with us rather than trying to hurry so they could go to friends.
I remember the Christmas that Denise received a dog, the Christmas that Dave received his pony, and then there was the Christmas that Dave would not tell us what he wanted Santa to bring him. He said that he had told Santa and that was all that was important. On Christmas Eve he wrote his letter to Santa and put it in his stocking. After he went to bed we read the letter and realized that he wanted a sleigh. There was a few anguishing moments but Santa did come to the rescue. On Christmas morning Dave looked all around and was disappointed that there was not a sleigh. But tucked in the branches of the tree was an envelope with a note and money telling Dave that the sleigh was too big for Santa to put on his sleigh. The next day Dave took his Dad down to the store to get a sleigh. Dave was happy that he could pick out his sleigh.
