Christmas
Day, 1933
Ina
stood on the front porch, waving and calling good-bye as Jack drove the sleigh
carrying the Smiths out of the yard and up the east hill. This marked the end of Shirley Anne’s stay with
Ina and Jack, and Ina’s heart was full. Once they were out of sight, she wiped away
a tear or two. She was really ready for the quiet week between Christmas and New Year’s,
but first she would sit in her blue rocker and reflect on this Christmas.
Oh
what joy to think of last night’s revelry here at her house! A wonderful time
was had by all this skimpy Christmas of 1933. But there was no skimpy Christmas
here, you know. Ina saw to that. Everyone was well remembered with small gifts,
trinkets, and treats. And they had so much food left over that they parceled it
out to the guests as they left for home – pies, cookies, doughnuts, fruitcake,
etc.
Christmas
Eve was Shirley Anne’s last night with Aunt Ina and Uncle Jack. When the party guests
had left, Shirley Anne got ready for bed, put a few cookies on the table for
Santa, and then hung up her stocking. (Jack did too, as he always did when a
youngster was in the home on Christmas Eve.) 
The
Smiths came early Christmas morning bringing a big box for Shirley Anne, which
proved to be a big “mama” doll which Santa left for her at their house. With Mrs. Smith’s
help, Ina served a big country breakfast. And now it was over and the house
seemed very quiet. Ina now set aside these feelings of loneliness. After all, she liked Christmas. It helped to pass the dark months, and this Christmas her life had been enriched by the Gingerbread Pageant. The preparations carried her through December, and the memories – and the gifts she received – would carry her through to spring. KW
3 comments:
This has been such a great story! I looked forward to it each day, and loved reading it, even if I didn't comment. And now we, along with Ina, can relax and rest on the day after Christmas!
Thank you so much for reading and enjoying my little day-by-day story.
Relax? How I wish that were true! Simply put, we packed up, closed the farmhouse, and drove back to town. Then I had to unpack. I'm still unpacking. Hopefully I can relax a bit tomorrow.
I did a load of laundry and put fresh sheets on the bed last night. Most of our boxes are put away, but we also have a bit more to do. I couldn't muster the motivation to go to the office today, so I'm working from home (this is a break).
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