First off, just let me say that I’ve been enjoying all the Christmas posts from the Geneabloggers. While I haven’t had time to do the daily blogging on the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories, it gave me a great idea. My mother has always talked about her family and the things they did while she was growing up, but I don’t know one thing about my Dad’s Christmases.
I took those blog suggestions and interviewed my father, on camera. It was awesome!!! The interview went great, and it prompted me to go back and look through some of my grandmothers photo’s for Christmases past. Prepare for picture overload.
First, the men would eat. That’s Uncle James back there grinning like a Cheshire Cat. Oscar is on the right, and on the left looking at the back of Uncle Doc’s head, and my grandfather on the right, Earl’s head. But lookout fella’s, I think Ruby was hungry and didn’t want to wait. Looks like she’s just going to grab it right from the bowl.
Since you guys seem to be in no hurry, the girls are going to stand behind you and try to send you secret mind signals to get up from the table so they can get your food. Mary Helen, Ruby, and Lou Jane, are going to burn a bald spot on the back of your heads Oscar and Audie with their x-ray eyes! And, they think it’s funny!
See, I told you!! The men cleared a path and Aunt Sis moved right in! Follow her ladies, like Mary Helen did. Lou Jane is on the left explaining to Audie how long it will take for the hair to cover the spot on the back of his head, and Major and Doc weren’t fazed at all. You gotta bring it better than that girls, to get them outta the food! I think Earl might be scared though, he’s watching Lou Jane hoping she won’t zap him next.
Mittie Lou runs in and says, “If I kiss you Daddy will you get up and let me have some food?” By the look on his face, I would say it’s about to be your turn girls! Uncle Doc is about to take his last bite anyway!
Way to go Ladies!! Glad you got your turn. I mean you deserve it, after all the hard work preparing the food, you should get to eat. I hope it was still warm after those slow pokey men.
Now that the eating is over with, how about “Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree” for a while. We gotta work this food off!!
Lou Ann says “Enough of this, let’s do gifts!!”
Nedra’s a little overwhelmed by all the gifts, so I think she is going to call some folks in for some help.
Pat and Billy are not sure what’s up with the adults, I mean for real, cut the chit chat and let’s start ripping some paper!! Audie, Rhodean, Uncle Doc, and Grandpa Major and Big Momma Mollie are just waiting for someone to hand them out!
Aunt Sis to the rescue again. She’s gotta keep it moving, keep those gifts flowing people!!
Ok children, you have waited long enough. The surprise guest is about to make his appearance. But be warned, I think the snow at the North Pole is really bright, cause Santa, I mean the surprise guest, looks like he’s been baking in a tanning bed, and we all know you didn’t have those back in the day!
“Ho! Ho! Ho! I hope I brought someone some Aloe Vera, cause I need you to re-gift it back to me. My face is burned. Maybe it’s from the glare on the snow, or the wind from my fast flying reindeer’s, but seriously, I need a volunteer. Who wants to rub some Aloe Vera on my face?”
“Now wait just a minute lady, you don’t have to jump in that fella’s lap, and there’s no need to hold me back. Ole’ Santy will get Mrs. Santy to do it later. We gotta get this party moving anyway!”
“Well little lady, I think Burton Hillis said it right when he said ‘The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”
So that is how my Dad spent his Christmas when he was growing up. And by the way, the picture right above, that young man to the left of Santy is my Dad, Rufus Higginbotham. My Mom is sitting next to him. She was Mary Helen Parks at the time.
Here they are again, my parents:
And here’s my Dad with his cousin Ruby:
I have such a nice looking family. I bet they had some really good times on Christmas Eve. I know I did.
Here is me with my grandmother Edna:
And here’s my grandmother many years later. She had eyes as blue as the sky. I love her and miss her.
So there’s my walk down Christmas memory lane. I hope you all enjoy the pictures. I know I did, and if I hadn’t interviewed Dad, I would have never thought about looking for his photo’s or learning about his Christmas traditions.
Susie
