Memories of Christmas

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness.--Bob Hope

As a child I loved Christmas...what kid doesn't??  It meant cutting out some of the school work to practice for the Christmas pageant....




Digging into the boxes stored in the basement for all the forgotten ornaments.....



Putting up the nativity sets.....one to play with (the chipped and glued set from Woolworths) and the nice set in the dining room....



Anticipating the trip to Meier and Frank's to see Santa,  ride the monorail and check out the mechanical displays in the store windows.....



And all the special things that came out of the kitchen during that holiday season....divinity, Russian tea cookies, Thumbprint cookies, Spritz cookies, fruitcake (I happen to like "good" fruitcake!) and rum balls (yuck! I tasted them every year because there had to be something good about them if Mom continued to make them every year!), eggnog, Tom and Jerry's (not for the kids but I do confess to trying it once. Didn't like it), and our family's traditional oyster stew on Christmas Eve....