Christmas Then and Now | holiday nostalgia christmasthenandnow.com

Childhood Memories of Christmas. We all have them. Most good,rnsome, not so good but we got through them all. So here we are. All grown up.rnRemember the “Christmas Wishes Catalogs and Sears too? Endless hours were spentrnpouring over those pages. A family venture to the Christmas Tree lot and thernpine smell of a new and fresh tree in the home. Old tissue wrapped ornamentsrnfull of memories came out stored boxes and presents started appearing under therntree, (how many for you?), good and happy moods, excitement, hot chocolate,rnbright lights and yearnings, ohhh for so many anticipated and hopeful yearningsrnfor toys! Oh but then when were “bad” parents would remind us, “Santa isrnwatching.” It seemed like Christmas would never come either, time went so slowrnin our youth. At least it seemed like it. Now looking back, where did all thatrntime go?

My mom had a surprise for me when I went to visit her awhilernback. There was a small picture pile on the table and a twinkle in her eye.rnSeemed as if she had found some pictures that we had been talking about earlierrnin the year that were taken when I was a young lad.

We were a real frugal family. One income, 6 kids and fosterrnchildren too, were always in our home. On a very lucky day, my mom purchased arnSanta Suit for me that I had had a fit over in the store. I tried to convincernher that I would be a great Santa if she got it for me. She bought me the suit,rnand it was the true highlight of my holiday. WE (mom and I) kept it a secretrnand closer to Christmas I would “don the red suit” and be available forrnpictures. Yes, even the neighborhood parents asked that I visit their homes forrnpictures with Santa after my socializing mom shared that I owned a Santa Suit.rnNeighbors knew each other well then, and the children all fully believed. I hadrna lot of fun with that Santa Suit.

With all the memories that have been created during ourrnchildhood, and here we are adults already, I would be so pleased to host yourrnpersonal Christmas or holiday pictures of “Then, and Now.” Mine I am sharingrnwith you here, is with my sister Shawntell and she was about 7 years old. I stillrnremember sitting with her for that picture.

This was my first “professional” posing and she had no idea itrnwas me. She even called me “Santa.” I think at that moment, I imprinted (on)rnthat I represented a big part of a wonderful holiday with a big responsibility.rnThe “seed” of Santa, was planted.

I loved wearing that suit for the children, and took the timesrnthat I did, very seriously. The older kids that “knew” kept quiet for theirrnyounger brothers and sisters, amazingly enough.

And now here we all are, truly, in the twinkle of an eye, olderrnand a little melancholy (perhaps) at Christmastime for those old days andrnmemories of our younger times. We all have our stories and when we talk aboutrnthem to others, more memories come to light. I think what is missing is thatrnmost of us don’t “yearn” for things anymore, like we used to. I think that isrnwhy some of the spirit is not as long lasting as it used to be. But then again,rnI remember telephone party lines, family dinners together, the home smellingrnlike cooking food with mom in the kitchen, wrestling with my siblings,rnwholesome TV that we would all watch together, stringing popcorn andrncranberries for the tree, being put on restriction (remember that?), having arnbudget and trying to be creative with all the gifts that you buy or make forrnyour family, and mostly, waking up Christmas Day to a joyful morning that Irnnever wanted to end!