Memories of Christmas' past

Christmas is a time of nostalgia;  A time for friends and family, for hopes and dreams, wishes and miracles.   Some of my favorite Christmas memories revolve around the buying and decorating of the Christmas tree, and of the house. When I as very small Christmas was a warm, special time of year, filled with the sounds of Mitch Miller singing on the record player, deliveries from Nuwer florist, my mother dancing in the kitchen while my father fought to fit the Christmas tree into the stand.  Once the tree was up my father would test the lights, replace the broken bulbs and put them on the tree.  We were allowed to watch from a safe, non-pestering distance. Then he would hang the garland,silver went around the tree, gold looped top to bottom.   Once that was done mom would join us in the living room and we would all put on the ornaments.  Mom and Dad put on the special glass ornaments, we kids put on the unbreakable. It seemed that each ornament held a different memory.
       With that done there was just one thing left to do,tinsel.  My Father was very particular about tinsel.  It went on one piece at a time, no more than  or  two or three strands to a branch so there would be enough to cover the tree, but that did not stop me from the occasional toss of a handful onto a top branch here and there.
   Once all the decorations were up the whole family would sit together in the living room with the tree lit and all of the other lights off.  Christmas then was filled to over flowing with love and laughter.  I wish all of you the same for this Holiday season.