So as a result of this year's change, I felt I wanted to write a bit about past Christmas memories.
The Minnesota neighbors that saw this were quite shocked by this tradition and it wasn't too terribly long that the change to little electric lights on the tree occurred.
My parents had made a bedroom down in our little basement of our very little Minnesota house. The tree was actually in their bedroom. And my mom chose to keep the "live" tree in there until my dad's birthday which was Feb. 17th! Wow! Here I am the day after Christmas striking down all the decorations to get my house back to "normal".
I remember that some of my friends would ask why our tree was still up. I am thinking now about all the mess the falling pine needles must have been to clean up. That's one tradition I won't be keeping or passing on. It is kinda fun to think about it though.
I also remember that we opened presents and celebrated on Christmas Eve, as we do now, still. However, there were no gifts under the tree until that night. And my dad would take me out on my sled and go sledding. It was always dark and cold, very cold. But there was always snow, as this was Minnesota! The road we sledded on seemed so steep to me as a little kid. But apparently not so much. After I was married I have gone back several times to my hometown of Elmore and that hill was barely a hill. I am not even sure how I could have sledded down it. But none-the-less, this is one of my most vivid memories.
I remember one year wanting a doll that was popular at that time, she was very tall, at least 3 feet tall and when you raised her arm, she was supposed to walk along side of you as you held the arm. I remember she didn't quite walk the way she was supposed to, but oh well. Old technology. Somewhere, I have a picture of her, but I would probably have to search forever to find it. So nevermind!
I also remember my grandmother coming from Germany and staying for 6 months. I remember her making me a crib for my dolls, too. She didn't use any nails, just made holes and pegs that fit into them. It was quite large, again this is how I remember it from my childhood. I also remember that when we moved to California, we left it behind. I think I am still sad about that. When she went back to Germany, it turned out that this was the only time I would be seeing her. I do have pictures of her and I during Christmases in Germany.
Now that I am a gramma, things are different again. I have four sweet munchkins that are a part of my life now. My mom still is nearby and I am happy for that. So now we have our traditions that are also slowly starting to change as my mom no longer can participate as she could in years past. She is 87 now and struggles to do most things. But the Roladen dinner for Christmas Eve is still in place and then the grandkids open gifts here. After they rush to the other grandparents for their family party. Things have changed over the years, but it's still fun to remember days gone by.
