Memories of Christmases Past Bring Smiles to Today

Musings of an Aging Mind

By Jack Bagley

Editor’s Note: I first wrote this column in December of 2020. Once you have a good story for the holiday, it isn’t necessary to update or rewrite it – like all good memories, it stands by itself. I find that the older we get, the more important the memories of the days gone by become. I hope you enjoy this memory of mine.

Next Thursday is Christmas Day.
As Christmas approaches, I find myself reminiscing on some of the wonderful holiday celebrations I’ve enjoyed. With your kind permission, I’d like to share one of them with you – and I know I’ve related this before, but it bears repeating, especially as the holiday comes near.
A child sees the Christmas holiday so much differently than an adult does. One of the best examples from my childhood would be the wonderful holiday of 1967, when my family lived on the second floor of a two-story flat on Washtenaw Avenue in Chicago. On that Christmas Eve, my father took me and my siblings to church while Mom stayed behind to attend to some last-minute cooking for the next day.
As we came home from the services, walking along Washtenaw’s sidewalks with about six inches of snow on the ground, and a light snowfall taking place on that cold night, my brother – who was seven at the time – looked up and noticed a red light moving across the sky. He excitedly proclaimed, “Rudolph is leading the reindeer! Santa’s in town!” My then-five-year-old sister squealed in delight as she pointed upward as well.
We all glanced skyward and, sure enough, a red light could be seen through the clouds, in motion. We paused to watch it a moment, and I remember my father saying something about wondering if Christmas had already come to our household.
Approaching the steps to the front porch, I was the first to notice fresh bootprints in the snow. Now remember, I was nine years old at the time but still a fervent adherent to both the religious and secular stories about Christmas, so I naturally thought that Santa had already been at the house. Since we didn’t have a chimney, I logically deduced that he’d have to park his sleigh nearby and walk through the front door, delivering his goodies to Mr. Ted (the landlord) and his family on the first floor and our little gaggle on the second.
When we got upstairs to our flat, sure enough – the gifts were stacked under the tree, which was lit up by one of those old revolving four-color lights. Mom was still in the kitchen, and she told us she had no idea how those presents made it under the tree. (I still think my mother earned an Academy Award for acting that night.)
Our family customs allowed the opening of one gift on Christmas Eve, with the rest waiting for the following morning. So my brother, my sister and I each carefully chose one wrapped present to open and enjoy. I don’t remember what my siblings received, but I will never forget the gift I opened – a model kit of a Gemini spacecraft, something I’d wanted for a long time. Santa (or Dad) had thoughtfully included in the package a small amount of glue, and it was all I could do to keep myself from starting to put the silly thing together that night.
The rest of the evening stands out in my memory as well. We sat in the living room enjoying the special programming that was on television, watching the light snow falling outside the windows, munching on the snacks Mom had been making while the rest of us went to church, and as we children went to bed, listening to the lovely Christmas carols my parents played on the record player. It was a warm and wonderful feeling that I still recall vividly, and though there have been many seasons since then, I think that’s the one that stands out as the happiest in my memory.
Of course, as I grew up, I came to understand that the red light in the sky that night was probably an airplane’s running light on approach to Midway Airport, and the fresh bootprints on the steps were most likely made by Mr. Ted himself. And that, in addition to her duties in the kitchen, Mom had stacked our Christmas presents under the tree herself. Somehow, though, realizing that does not take anything away from my happy memories of that special Christmas.
We don’t live in that world any more, I’m sorry to say.
I wish families still gathered close on Christmas Eve, went to church, and enjoyed a warm gathering with apple cider or hot cocoa and Charlie Brown specials on television. Maybe in some places they still do. I hope so.
From the bottom of my heart, I wish you a very Merry Christmas!