Hey Folks,

How about sharing some of those special
memories of Christmas's past. This is the
spot for those warm fuzzy memories that will
jump start our Christmas Spirit.*G*

My fondest Christmas would probably
have been my 6th one, over a half century
ago. What made it special to me was that
my Grandma and Grandpa spent that Christmas
with us.

I remember on Christmas eve, my Mom
and Grandma spent all day creating goodies
in the kitchen. The smells and tastes were
awesome and I remember them to this day.
There were more goodies created that day
than we normally saw all year.

My Grandpa and I supervised until
run out of the kitchen, and then he took me
downtown in his new Hudson to see
Santa at the department store. We sneaked a
chili dog and orange soda while we were out.

My Granpa was very special to me. He
was my buddy and talked to me like we were
equals. We could talk about anything. He
always wore a 3 piece suit with vest, pocket
watch and gold chain. He taught me to tell
time on that watch. Today it's in a glass
case on my mantle. My kids learned to tell
time on it as well.*G*

Whenever he would visit, he would always secret a small bag of my favorite
little peppermints in one of his pockets.
I could check another pocket for each hug
I gave him. I remember his beard scratched
like course sandpaper and he smelled of the
Tampa Nugget cigars he smoked. It was a
good smell. It was the smell of Grandpa.*G*

Christmas Eve, we had a big bowl of homemade
egg nog with real icecream and nutmeg
sprinkled in each cup. It was rare to see
alcohol in the house but I remember the
pint bottle of whiskey that went into that
bowl. I was allowed a small cup but Grandpa
kept my cup going.*G* I can still remember
the warm feeling when it went down.

I remember that Grandma and Grandpa gave me
a Lionel train for Christmas that year. It
was a favorite for many years. I gave it to
a neighborhood kid when I left for bootcamp.

Most of all, I remember the stories that
Grandpa told. He was a great story teller
and he could and often did entertain a room
full of family and friends with stories of
the "big war", family hero's and rascallions, the depression, prohibition and
speak easy's and special fishing and hunting
trips. I hung on to every word. We had
just gotten our very first TV that year but
I don't recall it even being turned on while
Grandma and Grandpa were there. The TV then
nor today could hold a candle to Grandpa's
stories.

It was not long after that Christmas that
Grandpa left us. One night in his sleep,
his heart gave out. But he lives on in my
heart even now. I still remember his
wonderful stories and share them with my
family and friends yet today. My Grandpa
was a very special man.*G*

I hope some of you folks will share some of
your special Christmas Memories. After all,
it is the Season.*G* Warm regards, Jim