Share Your Favorite Christmas Letter

Originally Written Between 2016-2017              

You know what?  I’m not in the mood to send out a Christmas letter this year.  Why, you say?  Well, let’s just say that 2016 has not been a good year for me.  While I have had some good times, such as attending my grandson’s hockey, baseball and football games, and good news; such as our son, David, getting engaged, I have spent more of my time this year dealing with sad and complicated medical events.

 

The year 2016 started off with our planned 2-month vacation in Arizona being cancelled because the townhome owner had sold his home and the new owner was not honoring our contract.  While we got our deposit back, we still incurred airplane and car transport change fees totaling $800.

 

And, then I have the medical news:  the usual broken elbows, shoulders, hips for my brother and sister, skin cancer and pulmonary embolisms for Norm, many hospitalizations for my brother and aunt and uncle, one of Norm’s childhood friends died, two of our friends diagnosed with cancer, and I had elective surgery on my legs and three weeks ago, a Transient Global Amnesia episode.

 

So, not a fun year.  And so, I decided to read you a Christmas letter my dad (Norbert Vogel – born in 1909) wrote to his grandkids many, many years ago:

 

“Grandma Elsie has been trying to make me write about the Christmases of my childhood. So, I will try to tell all of you what it was like at that time!

 

December 6^th was the feast day of St. Nicholas.  On this day, in early evening, St. Nicholas and two helpers dressed in old overcoats, beards and carried buggy whips and sleigh bells.  They would ring the bells and crack the whips as they would go from house to house.  We would open the door and listen as they came closer and closer!  The parents had made arrangements with one of the general stores for candy, cookies, apples, etc.  They put on a good show with the whips, but really didn’t hit anyone!  Just a lot of whip action!

 

On the real Christmas Eve, we had a big dining room and a round dining table.  We put a plate on the table for each one of us and Santa would put the presents on every one’s own plate!  It seems he knew where everybody sat!

 

We did not give presents to each other – nobody had any money.  Santa was the only provider.

 

Almost all of our presents were personal items – clothing mostly.  The younger ones got a toy or two – but, the older ones got mostly clothing which we needed anyway!  But, they were happy days!

 

As I was the oldest of seven children, I was the first one to find out that whole thing was a “put-up job,” so I was warned by Mom and Dad to keep my mouth shut!  Which I was happy to do.  Now, I was one of the “co-conspirators.”  But, it wasn’t very long until my brother, Al, got wise and Irma caught on and then the others caught on.  I can remember now – looking back – that it wasn’t quite the same.  Something was missing!  Even now – at this time of the year – I can recall different “Christmas Eve’s” which were not very happy; but, I won’t go into that now. Christmas is supposed to be a happy time.  Let’s keep it that way!”