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My Ghost of a Christmas Past ...
© Copyright 2010 - Michael Albee

In today’s world of I-Pods, Blackberries, smart phones, instant messaging, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, 24 hour a day news services, and the insatiable desire for instant gratification of all kinds, it is sometimes hard to remember a much simpler time when the all mighty dollar didn’t rule our every thought and deed. Back then the world moved a lot slower and our lives were a lot less stressful. I recently took some time to reflect and remember a time long since past when I still believed in “The Magic of Christmas!”

I remember the homemade popcorn strings made with the popcorn we popped in a pot on the stove … it was done this way because there weren’t any microwaves yet. I remember red and green construction paper chains wrapped around the family Christmas tree and hung like garland in the archways of our home. I remember big beautiful ornaments with hand painted winter scenes and snowflakes hanging on the tree so majestically. I remember the orange, red, blue, green and white colored lights reflecting off of the ornaments and the tinsel, as they lit up the darkened living room. I remember the smell of spruce from the Christmas tree and the way it made the entire house seem so special. I remember the Christmas decorations placed throughout the house and the Nativity Scenes set up on the table. The Christmas cards sent to us by family and friends surrounded them.

I remember, for me at least, the “Magic of Christmas” always began on the day after Thanksgiving. Part of the magic included Christmas songs playing on the radio and watching Christmas specials like Charlie Brown, Rudolph and Frosty on the TV. The constant thought that Santa was going to be bringing presents soon also added to the magic feeling.

I loved to sit and look out of our living room window at all of the lights in the neighborhood. The front yards were always lit up at night and I would sit, looking out of the window watching the lights for what seamed like hours. Some of the lights blinked and some burned steadily. There was just something peaceful about it. Along with all of the lights, it was comforting to see a Santa lit up in a neighbor’s snow covered yard. I think it must have been his bright red suit, his Rosie red cheeks and that great big smile that made him seam larger than life to me. Giant candy canes, Rudolph and the three wise men were always by his side. 

Finally, after what seamed to be forever, Christmas Eve day would arrive. The excitement would build throughout the day. Preparations for Christmas were almost finished. Dad would have to make one last trip to the store before it closed at noon and Mom would spend half of the day in the kitchen baking pies and getting things ready for the big Christmas dinner. My brother and I would spend the day wrapping our presents and wondering what we were going to get for Christmas. 

By the time bedtime arrived, we would be too excited to sleep. The newsman on TV wouldn’t be much help either. He would always say that Santa’s sleigh had been spotted on radar leaving the North Pole and that he would be in our town very soon.

We would finally fall asleep, but after a few short hours we would wake up and sneak out of our room to see what Santa had brought. The presents were all placed carefully around the tree. They were just sitting there waiting for us to tear into them. They seamed to be calling out to us to do it right then! But we both knew better!

After looking things over real good, we snuck back to bed. We just lay there in bed, wide-awake, waiting for Mom and Dad to wake up. As the dark of night turned into the dimly lit hours of the early morning, Mom and Dad were still sleeping peacefully. We had been awake for what seamed like hours, so one of us would get up and go to the bathroom right across the hall from their room. We’d make just enough noise to wake them up. It always worked!

At last, the time had come to open our presents. We’d always start with our Christmas stockings first. We didn’t have a fireplace, so they were hung from the organ bench or from a doorknob. After we’d opened all of our gifts and the giant pile of paper was picked up, we’d have a small breakfast. While we ate our breakfast, we would watch Mom put the turkey in the oven.

When that golden brown turkey came out of the oven it was always the centerpiece of what would be a late lunch. The meal would always include made from scratch sage stuffing, real mashed potatoes and gravy made from the roasting pan drippings. Other side dished included cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, scalloped corn and a big basket of brown and serve rolls. To top off the feast, some really great baked goods. 

Mom always made two or three homemade pies. She always made Pumpkin pie and her Minced Meat pie. On occasion she would also make an Apple pie. She would also make cinnamon-sugar roll-ups from the extra pie dough. I can still remember the smell of the pies baking on Christmas Eve and the Turkey and fixin’s cooking on Christmas morning. All these years later, the smells of the holiday send me back to my youth and revive my childhood memories. 

These memories fill my heart with warmth, but they also leave me with feelings of melancholia. It’s seams sad to me to think that these times now only exist in my memories. Although most of the “Magic of Christmas” has been replaced by the reality of adult life, I thank God that I still stumble across a magic moment or two from time to time. Sadly they are very few and far between, but I still enjoy those few moments very much. I hold them close in my heart and I pray that they continue to be a part of me for many years to come. 

As adults, it is our duty to pass these memories on to our children, grand children, nephews, nieces, and the extended members of our families. The things we do now will be the things that they remember in the years to come. We owe it to them, to help create great memories for them to remember.

During this season of “Magic” I encourage you to take the time to make as many Magic Memories as you can. After all, they are the only things that will live forever!

As I continue my search to reclaim the childlike “Magic of Christmas” for myself, I’d like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, a Joyous Holiday Season, Seasons Greetings, Happy Hanukah or whatever salutation is the most politically correct for you this year. I also wish you the peace that passes all love and understanding.

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