‘Memberin
In no particular order:
Earliest Christmas I remember . Jacksonville , FL. The Christmas party at the base. I remember a HUGE hanger with a million people. We all got a bag of gifts. My memory is that it was a huge bag, but then I wasn’t very big at the time.

Christmas at Mamo’s. We kids were upstairs in Carolyn’s room being unruly. The tree was in the living room but we couldn’t really see it from upstairs without being seen. I remember hearing jingle bells and we all ran back to the bed and hid. Don’t remember anything else until the next morning when of course Santa had come.

Christmas at Mamo’s. Ric and I got Shootin’ shell fanner 50’s. Double holsters, hats. The guns had sticky caps that you put on the shell and the rubber bullet was spring loaded so they really shot. I can’t imagine being a parent putting up with that. Especially multiple sets!

Christmas decorations at PawPaw’s. First in West End. They lived in the neighborhood behind where West End Baptist is now. Then in the Mill Village. PawPaw always had the house trimmed in lights. Everyone in the Mill Village was big on lights.

Driving in from anywhere west of here and coming thru Maplesville. That was our cue to start waking up and watch for Carolyn’s radio station. It still seemed like a long way from that station to Mamo’s.
Tornado in the Mill Village. Took off the end of the Mill and made a mess of the Mill Village.

Chimney fire in the house on Temple Rd. The week before Christmas and the weather wasn’t sure whether it was going to be warm or cold. Tried to rush a wood fire in the wood heater and left the bottom door open too long. Set the creosote in the chimney on fire and we had to call the fire department to put it out and check the house over. Right in the middle of it I noticed this one old guy sitting on the couch not doing anything to help but really enjoying the commotion. Bib overalls, no tee shirt, ball cap. I asked him if he was with the fire department (volunteers remember) and he said “no, but I heard it on the scanner and wanted to come watch.” I asked him to go home.

Christmas on Temple Rd. Or rather Christmas Eve. ALL of our clan coming to Dad’s. Some of us after communion at the Methodist church, other as soon as they could clear other responsibilities. Dad leaving the movie camera set up on a tri-pod in the corner and just letting it run during the festivities.

Christmas Eve Dad sitting in his chair holding court during the opening of presents. Someone else got the presents but he directed the traffic and made sure that everyone was opening something. The sheer quantity of it all! An eggnog toast and everyone off to there own home until we could bring all the kids with their presents back for him to inspect the next day.

Christmas programs at First Methodist Church Clanton. Big productions by Miss Helen. Men, women and children everywhere.

Candlelight/communion service Christmas eve at First Methodist with Mom. Who ever of us would show up and fill up two isles on the left side, mid-way down. God lives there you know. It is only right to sing out loud and clear and stand next to Mom so she can hear you. I have had my own church responsibilities for many years and have different applications of the things we learned of Jesus, but there is a comfort in that old church with the murals, stained glass and big organ that I only get when I go there.

I really thought I would have more than that. There’s a lot going on around here today and I’m just not concentrating. I’ve started the thread, y’all pitch in.

uncle westy over and out!