Today's submission comes from close friend Tom Butash whose talent for music is exceeded only by his kindness and thoughtfulness. He writes a about some of his gifts from the past as well as one very exciting one that will be arriving any day now.
Your request for my thoughts about Christmas gifts made me think of two things.
The first thing that came to my mind was our family Christmas Eve meal at my grandparent’s house when I was just a wee kid. Every year we would gather at my mom’s parents. Along with my parents, grandparents and siblings there were Aunts and Uncles and cousins. There were tables set up in every room on the main floor of the house to accommodate the gang. All the kids usually ate in the kitchen. We ate pretty quickly so we could get to the gift exchanging after the meal. Before we got to do that all the kids had to sit on the stairs that over looked the dining room and sing Christmas Carols while the ladies cleaned up the dishes and leftovers. Don’t really remember the men doing very much but I think that was par for the course back in the day...late 50’s and into the early 60’s. The gifts were piled under the tree...behind the tree...beside the tree...in front of the tree...there were so many that only the top half of the tree could be seen. When it was time one of my older brothers or cousins would take turns picking up a present and calling out the name on it. I remember how I preferred to not open each present one at a time as I got them but instead I collected mine until all the presents were handed out and then proceeded to open them one after another. I remember that it wasn’t any one present that made the night special. Instead it was being with all the family that could make it there and seeing everyone having a good time that made the night feel so special. Then, on Christmas morning, with each of us in our own homes we would enjoy the gifts that Santa brought that night while we were fast asleep.
The second thing that came to my mind was Christmas of 1977. Erin and I were married all of five months. I had just moved from Pennsylvania to Toronto when we were married in July. Both Erin and her parents insisted that we needed to spend our first Christmas with my family in Scranton, Pennsylvania and then do New Year’s Eve with her family back in Toronto. Going home for the holidays that year and seeing my dad’s trains up and running brought back such wonderful memories. After Christmas Eve dinner at my grandparents we woke up Christmas morning and exchanged gifts with my parents and siblings. When I thought all the gifts were handed out I noticed my dad with a big grin saying, “I think there’s one more. Look at the platform”! Sitting on the tracks was a Lionel steam engine with a big red bow and a tag with my name on it. I had no clue but somehow Erin had gone to George’s Train Shop on Mount Pleasant Rd. in Toronto, purchased it, snuck it into the car for the drive down and gave it to my dad to set up on the tracks for Christmas morning. I was speechless, not because of a loss for words but because I was a wee bit teary eyed and to choked up to get any words out. Talk about a perfect gift made perfect by the thought that went into it!
Over the years there were plenty more trips to George’s Trains as well as several purchases made while being home to visit in Scranton. Today I’ve got a dozen engines with plenty of rolling stock and cabooses. They’ve been boxed up for a few years now since our boys out grew them. However, our first grandchild is due any day...literally... and when she is a year old next Christmas you can bet I will have them up and running for her!
A very Merry Christmas my dear friend to you, Terry, your kids and grandkids as well as all the followers of your blog
No comments:
Post a Comment