by Gary Wright

Created on: July 02, 2009

Christmas at 6

The tree was over in the far right corner of the living room, near the new Phillips 15 inch TV cabinet. I recall Dad being in charge of putting on the lights and checking them diligently to make sure they were all working, and what needed to be changed was unscrewed and gently touched to the moist tip of his tongue and then replaced to see if that helped make the connection. Voila! It was done.

Then we got to decorate. I want you all to know that in 1957, my Dad would take me out into the woods and we would hunt in what seemed to be vast acreage, until we found just the right tree and he would cut it down and we would drag it together to the car where he hoisted it onto the top and lashed it to the roof and off we would drive back to the house to actually start the whole process.

Back to decoratingit was not just buying the prettiest of ornaments, at that time in our lives; it was who could make the best. We had a special topper that was made of blown glass, and very fragile, it was store bought. Mom put that on top. But my Sister and I would help with the making of the decorations by creating paper chains or popcorn strands. Mom magically produced the few exotic ornaments we did have.

All the time the beautiful story of the nativity played on the phonograph in the background or the radio was on declaring the joys of the season with Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, or Tex Ritter and Gene Autry singing their most famous tunes to brighten our holiday activities.

Tinsel was important back then. It was heavy, and if you were not careful with it, it would stick together in a clump. But it did wonderful things to the tree. Suddenly it was the most

beautiful thing in the room. With the lights glowing the tinsel picked up the glints and gleams and tossed the colors around the tree and the room was alight with the fancy of an aura which it never knew any other time of the year.

I can mostly remember one 45 RPM record that was mine. I think it came with the plastic Nativity Set which I bought with my own allowance. I think, well, never mind that detail, it seems to be lost just as the Nativity was, those many years ago.

Anyhow, the music, that was really important and I still can hear all those angels singing Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace and goodwill toward men.

As I was writing it just now, I could still hear the melody perfectly sung in my mind by those same angels.

I really did

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