Memories of Christmas Past

Love at Home

Today was a lovely Christmas.  We gathered at my sister Barb’s house and had a wonderful dinner and beautiful entertainment from nieces and nephews.  My how our family has grown from the “starter” family pictured above:  Daddy, Mama, me, Becky and Barbara.  Was that the Christmas I had the mumps on both sides?  Hmm….those chubby cheeks could just be BABY FAT!!!!  In the few years that followed this picture, Linda and Brian joined our family and boy did life get exciting then!  The excitement just keeps coming!

I was touched by a unique gift prepared by my niece, Natalie and given to me by Mama.  It is a book Natalie made entitled Hello Darling, Love letters of Vernon Allen and Doris Spears, 1950-51.  It consists solely of letters written by my parents to each other during the time they were dating and Daddy was teaching in a neighboring county.  They apparently saw each other on Wednesday evenings and on the weekends when Daddy made the long trip back home.  At first it was hard to read love letters written by my parents to each other.  I felt like I was peeping around the corner and eavesdropping on their lives and feelings for each other.  After awhile I got past that and realized that my dad was a much more affectionate man than I ever realized.  As he got older and became a school principal he became very business like in his letters and phone calls (at least to us kids–of course he wasn’t DATING us!)

Another thing I realized which was a big shocker was that before they got married Mama called HER mama “Mom” and Daddy called his mama “Mother.”  I can honestly say I never ever heard either one of them call their mothers anything but “Mama” my whole entire life.  Another shocker was that Daddy actually talked to his mom about dating Mama. Evidently he and Mama had gone for a drive one day and the car got stuck in the sand and Uncle Edward had to walk a long way to help them out.  Grandma Olie was amused and asked Daddy if he and “Doris” were glad to get out of the sand.  He told her he thought Doris was but that he kinda liked being stuck with her.  I just can’t imagine Daddy and Grandma Olie having that conversation.

I was really impressed with all the I miss you so much’s and l love you’s and I’m lonely for you’s.  Who ever knew my dad was such a sentimental romantic.  I sure never guessed!  Of course the years of having children and trying to provide for them and trying to be on the same page about everything took their toll.  Being stuck in the sand with a car full of chattering children was less of a thrill and more of a “Well don’t that just beat everything!”  Murphy’s law was frequently in full force in our lives and I think the romance dwindled a bit.

But time is kind, as I think eternity will be.  During the last year and a half of my dad’s life the romance was re-kindled.  He and mama were just like the couple writing those sweet letters over a half century ago.  They held hands, spoke of love, read together, spent time together and being with them was so sweet that I couldn’t wait to go over and spend some time with them and hated to leave when I had to be getting back home.

I think I’ve discovered what was missing in those in between years.  The love letters.  Mama and Daddy seemed to be able to work through some of their problems by writing down their feelings to each other, saying “I’m sorry,” and stating the ever present truth:  “Darling, remember that I love you.  I can hardly wait to see you.”  Perhaps writing some more of those letters would have eased the burdens the in between years brought.  I’m glad their love is strong and that they stayed by each other through the hard times.  Daddy has passed on  but I know he is waiting for Mama.  I know he would love to say to her, “Remember I love you and I can hardly wait to be with you again.”  And I know he will be.  And a happy time will be had by all–forever and ever and always and always.

Vernon and Doris, the old love birds!

The following is my favorite quote from “The King and I:”

"I believe in snow!"

……………….and God bless us, everyone!  Merry Christmas.