Memories of a Little Girl at Christmas

I remember back in the 1940's when the war was going on, families at home were trying to keep the spirit of Christmas alive for their children. Families were separated...sometimes for the very first time. Dad wouldn't be with us...and Mom had to carry on like never before. We lived in a rented house and by today's standards... very cheaply. There wasn't much money for Christmas that year. Mom made her fudge and we made cut out cookies together. We had one of Mom's friends and her little boy living with us to share expenses. He was a couple of years younger than me...but finally I had a little person to play with. Church was always important to our family. A Christmas  party was going to take place at our Church in the evening. It was cold and I remember walking several blocks to the Church. In those days I wore a wool coat with a matching hat and tight wool leggings that came down and fastened under my boots. I'm sure I had a scarf around my neck and mittens. The mittens had a knitted string attached that ran through the coat sleeves so we wouldn't lose them. We arrived to see lots of my friends there...playing games. I remember one game. We divided the people into two groups and went back and forth singing nursery rhymes and childhood songs until we couldn't think of any more. The winning team probably won a candy cane. At the end of the party as we were going down the front steps of the Church, Santa appeared and gave each child a cardboard box of candy. It was like the boxes that animal cookies come in. I can remember it like it was just yesterday.

I've told my Christmas memories here before, but there is one thing that just came to mind this morning. This posting is really good for me...it brings back so  many memories I had forgotten. There was a treat that I enjoyed that was sold at Walgreen's. When we were shopping, sometimes my Mom would treat me to a little bottle of malted milk tablets called Horlick's. I would suck on the tablets and it tasted like a malted milk in my mouth. They lasted a long time. Horlick's were sent to our troops during WWII as an energy booster. I loved these little tablets and would beg for them when we went shopping. For several years these bottles of malted milk flavored tablets were under my Christmas tree.

Well, that's enough memories for today. I just can't help looking back. It seems that with very little we had wonderful Christmas's. Simple ones ...full of family and love and little treats.

 Joe enjoyed the Sound of Music so much last week, that he bought the DVD of Julie Andrew's rendition. He lit a fire in the fireplace last night... and with only the Christmas lights on...we ate chocolate pudding with whipped cream and watched this movie. Joe for the first time and me watching one of my favorite movies over again. It was a wonderful evening...
Balisha