Now that I am almost 67 years old, I enjoy remembering and reminiscing about Christmas from long ago. I was recently listening to the radio in my car when I heard the DJ ask the audience if they could remember their first Christmas gifts from Santa. How old were they, and what did they receive?
I started thinking about it and realized that I could remember Christmas at age three. I don’t remember the Christmas day itself, but I remember a few of the gifts.
I received a porcelain tea set with pictures of children playing in the snow. I still have one or two pieces of it. Most of it was broken due to careless tea parties with my dolls, but I loved that tea set.
Another gift was a cowgirl outfit. I still have it. It’s a tiny little tan and dark brown skirt and vest with fringe around the bottom. Cowboys and cowboy movies were a big thing back then, so I was thrilled with the outfit. My husband said that every year he got a gun and holster, a cowboy hat, or cowboy pajamas to match the cowboy sheets and bedspread in his room.
I also received a red tricycle that squeaked when I pedaled it and annoyed nearby residents so much that one actually came out of his house and oiled it!
The next year I remember receiving the Suzie Smart doll. When I pulled a string at her back, she said in a tinny, high pitched and most annoying voice, “Hi, I’m Suzie Smart! What’s your name?” She said it over and over and over. She was almost as tall as I was, with blond hair, blue eyes, and freckles all over her face. My parents were so sick and tired of hearing that squeaky little voice that they sent me to a room on the second floor of the house to play and made me shut the door!
I also received a desk; it was a small little wooden desk with a chalkboard top that could be lifted, and small pegs inside that could fit into the pegboard bottom to make designs.
The next year I remember being so sleepy when my parents got me up to see what Santa brought. I staggered into the living area where we still had some unpacked boxes after our move to Buffalo, New York, and saw blurry images of boxes and toys. The first thing I said while my parents beamed down at me with the camera was, “Who brought all this junk?” They have never let me live that down. But I remember receiving a large plastic vanity set that had a stool. I could sit at the vanity in front of the shiny silver plastic mirror and put on my fake lipstick.
The next year I received a record player that played those thick plastic records. I had the “Little Drummer Boy” and “Mother Goose” records. I still love the songs and sing them now. One song verse from the “Mother Goose” record that used to make me laugh was, “Be kind to your web-footed friends, for one may be your mother…” I sang that to my mom over and over until I got a smack on my rear end.
When I was very small, I had a stuffed dog with floppy ears that I laid on when I had the measles. It went everywhere I went.
I had baby dolls, paper dolls, and later on Barbies. I had a tricycle and next a small bicycle. I loved my Easy Bake Oven that made some of the nastiest treats ever. I enjoyed my Hands Down game and Cherry Tree game.
Later years I loved my 8 Track player and Bread tape. I was thrilled with my drum set and record player with The Carpenters album.
As I grew older, I appreciated the jeans and shirts, as well as the ankle boots and coats.
Looking back, I know what a sacrifice it was for my parents to provide Christmas for three daughters on a very tight budget, and I am grateful.
Of all the gifts and celebrations, the most important thing I remember about Christmas past is the love my family had for each other and constantly showed, and the Christian faith my parents passed on to us. We knew the true meaning of Christmas from the time we were born.
That was the best gift of all.
