Classic Christmas!

This is what I consider a classic or should I say idylic Christmas photo. When I look it every year, I realize that I really did live in the "Leave It To Beaver" era! And, here we are decorating our Christmas tree when Cheryl was 2 and I was 9. I had a dachshund skirt instead of a poodle skirt...it was handed down to me from my cousin, Susan, who lived in Massachusetts, and, we lived in Arizona...long distance between Cheryl and me and our only first cousin...and, of course between Mother and her sister, Lois. By the way, my cousin's middle name was Lois...so lots of Loises in our rather small family! It became rather comical about the numerous Loises when I was in Massachusetts helping my Aunt Lois plan Susan's funeral...we never knew which Lois certain people needed to talk to when they called on the phone...and someone asking "which Lois" confused things even more! Back to Christmas...I know that I mentioned another time when I posted this phto that my sister was of the school of just throwing the tinsel on the tree and Mother and I liked to do it one strand at a time! I'm not sure that Cheryl was at the age in this photo to try to irritate me by throwing it on...I think that came in later years!!!! The console TV our grandfather gave to us. I can still remember it arriving on a truck and it being all boarded up in a box to protect it. Ahhhh for nostalgic memories at this time of year. I believe that I have also shared at another time that as idylic as this scene looks...not many days after this our lives were turned upside down. That was the year (1957) that Mother and Daddy were in a head-on collision on Christmas Eve. They decided to go get a cup of coffee at a nearby restaurant before putting Cheryl's Christmas gifts together. Our grandfather, who stayed with us during the winter (He lived in Massachusetts the other part of the year.) was with us...so Mother got us put to bed and Grandpa was there to be with us if anything untoward should happen. They got to the restaurant that was fairly close to our house...to find that it was closed. So they proceded down one of the main roads in town to see if another restaurant a bit farther away was opened. They never got there as a drunk driver veered over to their side of the road and hit them. This was before seat belts and padded dashboards. Daddy was somewhat protected by the steering wheel, but Mother got thrown forward and we don't know if she hit the dashboard with her forehead or the mirror...but the bones in the center of the forehead were crushed...coming within a fraction of an inch of her brain. She was in the hospital for weeks and had to go back later for further surgery...but miraculously no brain dammage and she went on to live a "normal" (whatever that is) life until she was almost 99. But definitely a traumatic time in our lives. Daddy got by with just being sore and perhaps had a broken rib or two and I had to help pull him up from bed in the mornings! Isn't it funny what memories come back. Cheryl hardly remembers any of this since she was so small. This photo still warms my heart when I see it. We had wonderful Christmas gatherings over the weekend. Abigail and Payton hosted her family and me on Saturday. We got to try Payton's fried pickles...and other good food. Yesterday, Nathan picked me up at 8am and headed to Shelbyville for church at their church. I went to Sunday School in the class that Linda H, teaches. Then went to church and sat with several of my grandchldren. Their parents were occupied with the childre's musical that we got to see and then they had a Christmas party for the children during worship service. After they got all cleaned up after the party, we headed to Wade, Melany, and Erin's in Murfreesboro. We had a grand time eating, gifting, receiving, visiting, game playing (the kids), etc. Just a very nice day all around. Today I headed off to Shelbyville with Marie and Carolyn. We went to the Co-Op in Shelbyville and found lots of marked down Christmas things...which none of us could resist! We had a good time! We found out that most of our prayer group couldn't come tonight, so Beki and I decided to come here for our prayer time. Next I am planning to do some baking this evening, which I set aside to go galavanting. We'll see if I have enough left in me to do that. This is baking that I plan to share with a couple of my neighbors who are so willing to help me, if I need it. So 'tis the season continues...but virtually my Christmas came to an end yesterday...now...maybe...I can sit back and relax a bit. I have been going at a pretty rapid pace...ready to rest! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!