Day 19....'Spreading Holiday Cheer'
FOR YOU
Day 19....Read a holiday book 📚 or watch another holiday movie. There are quite a few channels no doubt showing them.
Animal shelters always need supplies. Many relay on the kindness of others who donate items and funds. If possible besides food for animals the shelters can use paper towels and cleaning supplies and litter for cats. Purchase a few items and take them to your local shelter or drop off place.
Reading a holiday themed book is a good way to relax or just watch another one of those holiday movies. On a personal note I am reading a holiday themed book (yes I finished "A Christmas Carol" already); and other evenings watch a movie based on the season. It does put me into the spirit of Christmas.
I did a small favor for an individual who seemed overwhelmed at that moment. It was such a small thing for them but they were quite appreciated.
The lights in my neighbor interesting to see. What I enjoyed most are how some decorate their palm trees with white lights. They look amazing in the dark. One if my favorite set up is a lighted palm tree and underneath is a snowman figurine. It's amazing how some have to outdo their neighbor when it comes to holiday outside decorations. Listening to holiday music made it festive.
Until tomorrow enjoy your day; only six days till Christmas.
Part II of "A Hand Me Down Christmas" follows:
Part II
"A Hand Me Down Christmas"
The family began to prepare the house for Christmas. Two weeks before the holiday the windows were decorated and lights put on the outside. I can't explain the window decorations; but as I recall they were a string of silver beads and bells that stretched across each window. It took half an afternoon to get them just right. The front windows were decorated; the one side set of windows and the kitchen windows. I had no idea who would see the back windows but they too were decked out. The outside lights were hung around the front porch and front windows only. They were to be turned on each night at dusk and tuned off by 9:00pm. Each of us kids were assigned a designated night of the week for 'light duty'.
One week before Christmas the tree came into the house. My step-father found the biggest, fullest tree. He needed to cut a bit from the top. Furniture in the large living room had been rearranged in order for the tree to be centered between the windows. The nicest part of the tree was showcased in the window. Decorating it reminded me years later of an assembly line. It was an event all planned to the smallest detail (one would think D-Day was being planned). Well in a way it was D-Day, Decorating Day.
My step-dad and step-grandmother (from here on out they will be called dad and grandma) did the tree trimming. First went the lights; next the ornaments. Us kids got the job of handing the ornaments to my mom who then handed them to dad and/or grandma. We were told to make certain there were no cracked or broken ornaments and that each had an ornament hook. Dad and grandma made sure the best looking ornaments were placed on the tree where the world could see. After all the ornaments placed, then came the beads and bells garland that were identical to the window decorations. Once that job done the tinsel carefully hung; the candy canes followed. By the time the tree was completed you could barely see it's green branches. A star was placed on the top. The tree lights then turned on so we can all see the handiwork. Bundled in our coats we headed outside to see the tree from the street.
Now that the tree was up new jobs had been given to us kids. My job was every night to turn on the outside lights at dusk and turn off at 9:00 pm; JJ had to plug in the tree lights and unplug at 9:00 pm; and Di's job to make sure the tree had water and two aspirin.
YES, you read that correct; for some reason the tree had to be given aspirin as well as water. I had no idea why I guess it had a headache.
Other Christmas items were strategically placed around the house. The Nativity scene set on the long table in the foyer.
The next job we worked on was the sending of Christmas cards. My mom and dad came home from work with a list of company employees to whom would be recipients of the cards. Since both worked for the same company it made the sending easy. My dad having nice handwriting would sign the cards, my mom addresses the envelope and put on the return address, I put them in the envelope, JJ sealed the envelope and Di put on postage. Again an assembly line job. After the cards completed to co-workers came cards to family members and friends. My dad only had a sister out of state but also a few distant relations who received cards; mom's family were mostly out of state. Cards were done the Sunday afternoon after the tree completed. Once the cards all done; they were taken but us kids to the corner mail box.
Doing these holiday things may seemed like fun family time but NO they were jobs to be done. It was one way to earn extra spending money I learned.
Stay tuned for Part III.
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