Quote
JamesJM
I live in what's basically a desert... few trees, and certainly no Christmas trees. Oh we could have driven up in the mountains and found one, it's not far, but we never did.
Since my kids were born we've gone to a tree farm a few times, but that isn't really the same, is it? Anyway, you reminded me of something - -
When I was growing up my Dad used to tell my sister and I how lucky we were to have what we had - - a tree, presents - - and he would tell us how he would wake up Christmas morning to a stocking... inside perhaps an orange, a jar of jam preserves maybe... and some new socks. We heard that every Christmas... not with remorse, nah... wasn't that... nor was it actually 'scolding' us for not being more grateful... nope, it was fond remembrance.
One Christmas, a few years before he passed, and now with grandkids AND a couple great-grandkids... we got him a stocking. And inside we put an orange, some jam, and new pair of socks. It was one of the VERY few time I saw my Dad tear up in his life. He loved that Christmas. - JamesJM
That's a great story.
My Dad's mother, a Belgian immigrant who came to the US shortly after World War 1, used to tell a similar story getting an orange for Christmas and being very happy about it.
I wish we would have done what you did for your Dad for my grandmother.
I think about her and that story every Christmas.