Once there was a sweet, shy man who came into his own on
Christmas. Surprises were his delight. No one could get a single word out of him about the presents they might get.
If you mentioned something six months before Christmas and then forgot about it, you might find it under the tree.

One particularly lonely Christmas, my aunt had just lost her husband. She was depressed. They had been very close.
She was window shopping and saw an extremely expensive handbag that she adored. Somehow, it found a home under
our Christmas tree.

Of course this man was my father who swore that we would only get switches in our stockings. No matter how poor we were, we always had Christmas. Sometimes I think how much we have lost in meaning now that we can buy whatever appeals to us. He and my grandmother, his mother, always saw to it that our home made gifts satisfied
our heartfelt desires. I remember little suitcases full of doll
clothes, tiny rag rugs and quilts, home made doll furniture and always there was enough to buy a doll.

My children and I adored my father. He loved us and never
sat in judgement on our many mistakes. He truly knew how
to love unconditionally.

This is the time of year when I miss him most. He left this
world in l972 after a five year agonizing bout with cancer.
We still love you Daddy and we remember you. You would
be proud of the lives you left behind and you will live in our memories for many years.