Imagine if you will two children who never got toys until
Christmas Eve. We were too naive to not believe in the existence of Santa Claus. There was usually a school party and a large sack of candy...that hard kind that doesn't taste very good but lasts forever and an orange and an
apple for everyone.

Then the big night came and we all went to my grandmother's house. I don't recall anyone helping her but she had six
living children. Dinner was always turkey and dressing and
cranberry sauce and an apple pie that no one has ever been
able to recreate. We could hardly wait for dinner to be
over so we could open our presents. Joan and I usually got dolls and a suitcase full of home made clothing for them, and homemade doll quilts. We also got knitted caps and
gloves. The caps were too wierd to wear to school but
the gloves came in handy.

We played games after that. The adults participated and
that made it even more fun. Finally, about eleven we loaded
the car and went home.

Christmas day we went to my other grandmother's house and
had more treats and a big dinner. My two favorite cousins
were there and we played all day.

It was a perfect and lovely time. I can't imagine the
work that all of the home made stuff and planning required.
I have never had a Christmas that was more magical than those . There were carolers on Christmas eve and on Christmas day, my grandmother would gather us all around
her piano to sing.

My cousins had a german shephard named Pal. I sent my surviving cousin a Christmas card with a german shephard
on it. She said the memories came flooding back and she
cried a few tears. She remembered the magic too.