GENE BASSHAM SHARES: Maybe not my favorite Christmas but one I will never forget. It was Christmas Day 1963 and I found myself walking on the deck of a troop carrier in the Atlanta Ocean half way to Germany. I was looking around and up as the snow hit my face. What an experience. First of all, I had never been across a body of water l...arger than Lake Ariana in Auburndale, FL. And to top it off it was snowing out in the middle of the ocean. Who had ever thought about it snowing in the Ocean. Not me! We just did not think or talk about things like that as I grew up in Auburndale.
Sudye Cauthen says: Actually, Darrell, I haven't spent much time wondering how I'd like to be remembered but I did hear something unusual from a friend. A few days ago he explained that when he passes, he wants absolutely nothing--no service, no headstone, no notice. And he feels this way is more natural, closer to natural law because, after all, the deer and the moose and the squirrel have no markers. Just a thought. Happy holidays to you and yours.
Brenda Sue Lock Thomas says: My most memorable Christmas was 1966 when I asked for a monkey. Yes a monkey! My dad bought me a spider monkey from Doty's Farm and Garden. Dad put some work gloves on and was trying to catch the monkey, I named Charlie. Charlie jumped out of his cage jumping on my brother, John's leg and bite him on the butt! After r...unning around the house, Charlie eventually jumped in our very first real Christmas tree and tore it to pieces. We'd always had a silver aluminum tree before this. Needless to say that was the last real tree we ever had as children.
GAIL WARREN SADDLER COFFMAN says: My most memorable and magical Christmas was the year that i turned 5. I thought I heard Santa Claus in the living room. I didn't dare get out of bed, so I waited until all the lights went out and I quietly went into the living room. I couldn't believe my eyes! Santa was asleep by our tree, enjoying the warmth of the fireplace, covered with a quilt that I had never seen before. I was so excited and it was all I could do to sneak quietly back to my bedroom and shut the door. I didn't think I would ever go to sleep! When the sun came up, my brother made the rounds and woke me up, then my parents. We rushed to the tree where we found a healthy stash of presents covered by a quilted cowboy comforter that was also one of my brother's gifts. It was long after I stopped believing in Santa Claus that I finally realized that I hadn't seen Santa asleep on the floor, but rather the gifts as we found them on Christmas morning.
Rachel Owen says: I remember waking up the week of Christmas to a white blanket of snow (about 20 years ago) and calling everyone I could think of to get up and see the snow. It had not snowed in North Florida for 100 years and there it was snowing. So whisper soft and white. I stayed out in it all day and I hate the cold but I knew I would probably never see this happen again in Jacksonville.
My favorite Christmas...hmm I've been thinking about that and there are a number of things that come to mind but I remember being the most excited about Christmas when my grandparents were spending the night on Christmas Eve and we kids got to sleep together on the floor. It was fun to sleep together knowing Santa was coming and our grandparents were going to be there with us when we got up. Thanks Darrell
Jeremy Chambers says: For me it's not necessarily the last christmas that we had with Papa Chambers before he passed away, but this one moment in that christmas, where I saw all our chambers relatives gathered together under one roof....aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, all gathered around that big ol' douglas fir tree that was ado...rned with big christmas lights, fruit flavored multi colored candy canes, peppermint candy canes, toy ornaments and the ornaments that my brother and I had made as kindergarteners, all while the lights glowed softly and the fire was going in the fireplace. My my! i can still remember walking down the hallway before everyone arrived and see my dad fiddling with the stereo system, he loved his gear! and the dining room table...oh my goodness! laid out with such sumptious faire! Sorry guys...when i think about this stuff..my mind just wanders!
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GENE BASSHAM SHARES: Maybe not my favorite Christmas but one I will never forget. It was Christmas Day 1963 and I found myself walking on the deck of a troop carrier in the Atlanta Ocean half way to Germany. I was looking around and up as the snow hit my face. What an experience. First of all, I had never been across a body of water l...arger than Lake Ariana in Auburndale, FL. And to top it off it was snowing out in the middle of the ocean. Who had ever thought about it snowing in the Ocean. Not me! We just did not think or talk about things like that as I grew up in Auburndale.
ReplyDeleteSudye Cauthen says: Actually, Darrell, I haven't spent much time wondering how I'd like to be remembered but I did hear something unusual from a friend. A few days ago he explained that when he passes, he wants absolutely nothing--no service, no headstone, no notice. And he feels this way is more natural, closer to natural law because, after all, the deer and the moose and the squirrel have no markers. Just a thought. Happy holidays to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteBrenda Sue Lock Thomas says: My most memorable Christmas was 1966 when I asked for a monkey. Yes a monkey! My dad bought me a spider monkey from Doty's Farm and Garden. Dad put some work gloves on and was trying to catch the monkey, I named Charlie. Charlie jumped out of his cage jumping on my brother, John's leg and bite him on the butt! After r...unning around the house, Charlie eventually jumped in our very first real Christmas tree and tore it to pieces. We'd always had a silver aluminum tree before this. Needless to say that was the last real tree we ever had as children.
ReplyDeleteGAIL WARREN SADDLER COFFMAN says: My most memorable and magical Christmas was the year that i turned 5. I thought I heard Santa Claus in the living room. I didn't dare get out of bed, so I waited until all the lights went out and I quietly went into the living room. I couldn't believe my eyes! Santa was asleep by our tree, enjoying the warmth of the fireplace, covered with a quilt that I had never seen before. I was so excited and it was all I could do to sneak quietly back to my bedroom and shut the door. I didn't think I would ever go to sleep! When the sun came up, my brother made the rounds and woke me up, then my parents. We rushed to the tree where we found a healthy stash of presents covered by a quilted cowboy comforter that was also one of my brother's gifts. It was long after I stopped believing in Santa Claus that I finally realized that I hadn't seen Santa asleep on the floor, but rather the gifts as we found them on Christmas morning.
ReplyDeleteRachel Owen says: I remember waking up the week of Christmas to a white blanket of snow (about 20 years ago) and calling everyone I could think of to get up and see the snow. It had not snowed in North Florida for 100 years and there it was snowing. So whisper soft and white. I stayed out in it all day and I hate the cold but I knew I would probably never see this happen again in Jacksonville.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas...hmm I've been thinking about that and there are a number of things that come to mind but I remember being the most excited about Christmas when my grandparents were spending the night on Christmas Eve and we kids got to sleep together on the floor. It was fun to sleep together knowing Santa was coming and our grandparents were going to be there with us when we got up. Thanks Darrell
ReplyDeleteJeremy Chambers says: For me it's not necessarily the last christmas that we had with Papa Chambers before he passed away, but this one moment in that christmas, where I saw all our chambers relatives gathered together under one roof....aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, all gathered around that big ol' douglas fir tree that was ado...rned with big christmas lights, fruit flavored multi colored candy canes, peppermint candy canes, toy ornaments and the ornaments that my brother and I had made as kindergarteners, all while the lights glowed softly and the fire was going in the fireplace. My my! i can still remember walking down the hallway before everyone arrived and see my dad fiddling with the stereo system, he loved his gear! and the dining room table...oh my goodness! laid out with such sumptious faire! Sorry guys...when i think about this stuff..my mind just wanders!
ReplyDelete