Christmases past and Christmas gifts

Christmas is a time of gifts and memories. Growing up, my wife Peg and I had different expectations for Christmas. I was an only child until I was fifteen, but Peg came from a family of seven children. Gifts abounded in my family. It was always easier than mentioning love, but it was our way of showing it. Gifts in Peg’s large family were limited, noise was not. However, the gifts from both families were well thought out.

When I wanted pellet guns for Christmas, I bought pellet guns… and of course one year Santa brought me a Shetland pony. When I wanted an English Racer bike, I bought an English Racer. When I wanted a record player, I bought a record player, and when it got obsolete I got a fancy reel-to-reel tape recorder.

We recently talked about childhood Christmases and our Christmases together.

Peg had two favorite Christmases growing up. One was when she received the doll from her, Lilly Rose. Peg still loves that doll. Today she lies charmingly in a small hallway dresser. Her hair is up on her head like Elsa Lanchester in Bride of Frankenstein. Lilly Rose’s mechanical eyes are a little off-center, but she watches me closely as she passes. I have eyes follow me. I think the doll would do me physical harm if she ever hurt Peggy. I’m not really afraid of the doll, but my pace picks up when I pass.

On Peg’s second favorite Christmas, she received a set of Chinese checkers and a globe. The Chinese Checkers marbles fit perfectly in their holes. The hallmark of bad Chinese checkers are the shallow notches that allow the slightest breeze to start a stampede of marbles off the board. Peg could play for hours… just like she plays Spider Solitaire on the computer today.

The globe was the cheap inflatable kind and she was disappointed, maybe even embarrassed, but those feelings meant nothing to her as her fingers traced distances from country to country. And I think she loved to dream of all the places in the world that she could visit. Some things never change. In our house, next to the chair in the living room, she has a world atlas. She still dreams.

In our life together, we both have the same favorite Christmases. Our first Christmas was in our studio in North Yakima. It consisted of a tiny bathroom, a tiny kitchen, and a living room with a bay window giving us a secluded view of a large hedge and lots of greenery.

The Christmas presents were a surprise for Peg. Instead of the one or two gifts she was used to and expecting, I gave her dresses, shoes, jewelry, and a host of other less expensive but well thought out and appropriate gifts. When we visited my parents, she received a double dose of gifts. She was overwhelmed.

Looking back, I was probably wrong to raise the bar on gift expectations, but I love giving gifts and really enjoy buying him things. My gifts are not just a bunch of gifts. They must be perfect. I always try to find the perfect gift…sometimes I have to explain why they are the perfect gift…sometimes I have to explain it multiple times, but I always think they are perfect.

Our other favorite Christmas came when the children were quite young. Our family was not planned. Our three children were born the first three years of our marriage. Peg was raised Catholic. I was a Methodist. She had the rhythm and I had the method. Together… well, in our fourth year we discovered planning and bought a duplex near UPS.

This particular year we didn’t have a lot of money. Peg received a pasta cooker from the children, which he treasured. Peg and I made presents for the children. For the three of us I built a puppet theater, while Peg created hand puppets. For Del, the second oldest, I built a western fort, much like Fort Nisqually, with cowboys and Indians. For our youngest son, Patrick, I built a castle out of beer cans for turrets and turrets and painted it all grey. He also got bags of knights and plastic horses. For Andrea, our eldest and only daughter, I built a dollhouse made from a large turquoise crate salvaged from the house that was demolished next door. Peg gathered small pieces of furniture and crocheted doilies to cover the floor. Andrea still has the rugs.

The pasta maker is gone as is the puppet theater, the puppets, the fort, the castle and the dollhouse. When asked about their favorite Christmas memories, that Christmas stands out as the best for each of the children… of course, some Christmases have been known to wear out electronic games and radio controlled toys before they were introduced, but that’s all. another story.

Christmas is a time to give to family… to friends… to the community and to give the right gift… and the right keepsake.

Of all the gifts we give, I believe that memories are sometimes the best gifts.