A Christmas Rememory
My dad was one of the best gift givers! I don’t remember when or why he decided to give us all Christmas presents just from him. And, for all I can remember, it may have only been one year that he did it. I should check with my siblings, right? As I recall, Christmas was a pretty big deal at our house. We didn’t get gifts on a regular basis so any gift was special! I do remember getting a Heidi doll one year. Does anyone else remember Heidi? Here is a video about her. And, if you want of your own, here‘s one on eBay! I don’t remember much about Heidi except for her red carrying case! I guess my love for handbags started with Heidi!
But, I digress! So, Dad would buy us gifts, wrap them, and put them under the Christmas tree. As far as I know, Mom didn’t have any more idea of what was in each package than we did. Now, here’s where my dad was either really clever or really mean! He DIDN’T put names on the packages! Dad would bring a package home every few days in the weeks leading up to Christmas. I think he delighted in torturing us! You can be sure at least one of us (any guesses?) was shaking, listening, and generally scoping out those gifts! I think the anticipation was almost as much fun as the actual unwrapping. No, no, it wasn’t! Opening that gift you’d wondered about for days if not weeks was priceless!
And even more special Christmas Rememory
Ok, I checked with my sister, and she has absolutely no memory of Dad buying us gifts. I think I’m right, though, so I’ll continue with that! One Christmas, my box was a big square one. It was heavy and clunky. Now, I didn’t know that was my gift until Christmas Day. I’m sure I had given each and every gift an in-depth inspection even if the gifts weren’t from Dad. This particular year, Dad gave me ice skates! He always teased me about my big feet (I wore a size 8 when I was in third grade). I’m guessing, then, it would have been after third grade. Mom and Dad had a lake lot; Dad always intended to build on it. We spent many weekends mowing and even camping out there. In the winter, we would only go for the afternoon, but we would ice skate! I loved to ice skate even though I wasn’t any good. My mom always told me I had weak ankles. When I was in junior high (that age…my school didn’t have a junior high per se), Mom and Dad bought a lake cottage. Even though the cottage had to be winterized (which meant the toilet didn’t work), we spent many weekend afternoons there. I definitely ice skated there though I vaguely remember the ice being rather bumpy.
If I told him once…
Those ice skates traveled with me from house to house over the course of several decades. In 2015, as we were packing up the house for our move, I was going through the basement. Our basement was poured concrete and had a few little stubs sticking out here and there from the construction. Since it was on the utility side of the basement, we never really worried about them. I hung my ice skates on one. Every once in a while, Nigel would get a burr up his…ahem…bum and want to clean out the basement. Each and every time, he’d ask, “What about these ice skates?” And, I’d tell him each and every time, “Leave those alone. Those were from Dad!” But, as I approached that little stub that day in 2015, nothing was hanging. I rushed upstairs and confronted Nigel. He shamefacedly admitted he’d gotten rid of them. I was completely devastated. Those skates represented so much more than wintery afternoons spent on a frozen lake. They were a part of a loosely linked chain to my dad. By 2015, Dad had already been gone for more than 40 years, but he would always be my dad.
Here, right here! This is where those skates would be hanging now!
And, then, you know how you pick and pick at a scab? Yep, I kept at him. I finally got him to admit he’d not only gotten rid of them, he’d actually just thrown them away. He didn’t even donate them. I don’t think I spoke to him for a week. I was mad; I was shocked; I was hurt. Now, when we put out the Christmas decorations, I haul the sled (which was mine when I was a kid and rode it down the hill at Baker Park in Columbia City) up out of the basement. I look pointedly at Nigel when I place it by the front door. Sometimes, when I’m in a really foul mood (am I the only one who gets in a terribly awful mood when decorating for Christmas…no? Hmmm), I’ll say, “Yep, there’s where those skates would be hanging if I still had them!”
Men are truly from Mars!
I don’t think Nigel even thinks about the sentimental value of things. I mean, he has some things from his former employment…a couple of plaques, rings (he has a massive gold ring for some huge achievement), and other things like that…but he doesn’t really care about them. For him, the value of an item is what it does. If I buy him a gift, it’s almost always a tool. The problem is he also buys himself tools! And, I know as much about tools as he does about eyeshadow! OK, that may be an exaggeration. I know much, much more about tools than he knows about eyeshadow! I do know the difference between a wrench and pliers. But, the difference between an impact driver and a power drill eludes me! They accomplish the same thing! Nigel is also very left brained whereas I am more right brained (though I would argue I’m actually middle brained). When he got rid of my ice skates, he had no idea (even though I’d told him time and time again) how much they meant to me. Was I ever going to ice skate again? The answer was and is no. But, their value wasn’t in their usage; it was in the love of the giver. Maybe my dad was from Venus?
Oh, yes! We must include this one!!!
The Lewk!
It’s so funny how bloggers’ minds work. Kellyann wrote about how to look chic at any age (here I am at 64…chic is not an adjective often applied to me)! One of her tips was to go for a monochromatic look. And, although I didn’t really do a monochromatic look, it’s sort of the same thing! These are the leggings I purchased on Black Friday. They are cozy and just feel so lush (probably not the best adjective for pants, right?). I wasn’t sure about fit because my local J Jill didn’t have any petites on hand. I tried the misses size and they were fine. They are a smidge long but not so long I can’t wear them (and don’t have to hem them). They are called crushed velour, but I don’t really see any crushed anything about them. They are just a nice velour. My tee is an old one from Old Navy with all of these cute winter images on it. The dress is from J Jill and is featured in this post. My jewelry is also all old. The pearl necklace is probably close to ten years old and is from Talbots. The other necklace and earrings are from J Jill. I think I may have gotten them during lockdown last winter. But, let’s look at those boots, shall we? I wanted a pair of combat boots. Let’s face it. I am not really a combat boots kinda girl! But, let’s have L’Artiste design a pair, and I’m all over them! Bonus points…they even have a bit of a lug sole! And, Nordstrom was price matching them when I bought them!
Minding my boots… 
This would be the teacher stink eye! 
Ok, I’m done. 
Nigel, did you hear me? 
Last one, Nigel! 
Please, can’t we be done now?
One more thing…
Oh, I almost forgot! The Christmas candles in the first picture? My daughter got married the week before Christmas…exactly one week before! The year before her wedding, we picked up sooooo many Christmas candles on clearance at Kohls. Some of them were less than $1.00. We put them in groupings in the centers of the table for the reception. After the reception, we packed them up in the boxes we’d stored them in for a year. Nigel put them in the back of his truck under the tonneau cover, and we promptly forgot about them. Every once in a while, I’d mention them to Nigel. He’d say, “They’ll be OK. They’re just candles.” When we finally got them out of the back of the truck, many of them were basically useless as decorations because the color or even the covering was knocked completely off of them! I have about twenty of them left, and my daughter has a few. These are two of them. When I put them out each year, I think of that gorgeous wedding and the lovely gift I received that year…another son.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
My sister insists Dad didn’t buy us special Christmas presents. She even insinuated Dad may have only bought one for me (his favorite child)! But, I distinctly remember my brother getting a bb gun. I will have to call him some time to find out. Do you have any special gifts you’ve hung on to for a long time? Or, do you have a story similar to mine? Your significant other got rid of a precious treasure? What do you think of these boots? Are you a combat boots kinda person? Let’s have a conversation! Drop me a comment, and I promise to respond! If you haven’t already, won’t you consider subscribing to my blog? Or, perhaps, share it with a friend? My blog is not huge and probably never will be, but it’s been such a wonderful way to connect with people like you, dear readers! I am so very glad you read, comment, and subscribe. I truly do appreciate each and every one of you!
Marsha, I still have my skates. We used to go back to Stafco and skate. By “we” I’m not sure who all went, but we’d carry our skates and put them on there.
Well, Mary Louise, if you ever want to get rid of them, I know a certain little sister who would love to have them. I don’t think I ever got to go to Stafco. Mom probably thought I’d do something dangerous (she was probably right). I do remember going back there once when it was frozen though. But, I think I only went once. You had all the fun!!! Love you, big sister!!!
Marsha, Marsha, Marsha! Chic is definitely an adjective used to describe women in their 60’s!
I found myself gasping out loud reading this – NIGEL! OH MY GOD! (That’s my yelling voice btw) How in the world did he throw those skates away? Throw them away???? I don’t think I can get past this. It’s 6:14 in the morning and I am already traumatized. Thanks again, Nigel!
xo,
Kellyann
I know…if he’d donated them, I could have forgiven him a little faster! But, he threw them away!!! And, he knows how I feel about filling up waste management spaces anyway!!! I hope you didn’t wake anyone up!!
Oh, yes, there are many chic women in their 60s…I just don’t know that I’m one of them! I want to be Helen Mirren or Judi Dench when I grow up!
Thanks for coming by, Kellyann!
Your dad sounds like a wonderful guy. So sorry that the skates got thrown away. I would be so mad too. I always hold on to sentimental items like that. Love this denim dress look my friend!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
My dad was one of those all around good people! No one could ever say a bad thing about him. He was kind, generous, and so very funny! The funny thing is Nigel doesn’t think he ever asked about the skates! He did…many times! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one to hold onto sentimental things. Want to know something really weird? I donated the dress I wore to my daughter’s wedding, but I still have the dress my mom wore to mine!
I do love this denim dress. It’s so doggone versatile!
Thanks, as always, Kathrine, for coming by!
I think I would have slapped Nigel!! Lol. How could he. But your dad must have been a fun guy! Sweet memories.
My dad was such a wonderful human being. I lost him when I was 16 so I didn’t really ever think to know him like one does as an adult. I mean my kids know me pretty darn well. I didn’t need to slap Nigel…the better punishment is always the silent treatment with him!
Thanks, Nancy, for coming by!
Oh my gosh how are you speaking to your husband???!! Just kidding… I would have been so upset and heart broken and mad!!
What a great memory though. Perhaps you’ll find a pair of old skates that you can use as a “stand in”. Not the same I know.
Merry Christmas!
Oh, Ella! I was definitely heartbroken and absolutely upset and mad! He swore he’d never asked about them before. There’s that selective hearing thing men seem to have! I have thought about getting a pair for my sled, but then I’d always be thinking about my own. It’s something to consider, though!
Have a fabulous holiday season, Ella!
I rememer my parents getting me a cool watch growing up and a tennis racket. I was one of those kids who like to opened the presents before Christmas sometimes and see what they were. But my favorites were stocking stuffers! My mom just gave me the stockings (she handmade them) last year and they bring back a lot of memories! Those boots are really cool!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
I might have unwrapped a gift a time or two in my past!! We didn’t ever have stocking stuffers at our house. My mom was a very minimalist person (so unlike her daughter). But, how wonderful to receive your stockings from your mom. I need to make more things for my kids so they don’t forget me! I do love these boots and look forward to wearing them often!
Oh, there is so much material here! First of all, yes, you are chic!! Chic is in attitude and you’ve got that, Marsha. Secondly–men. I have to watch my husband when he cleans out the garage and such. For some reason, MY things are not important, but HIS are. So, I give him that teacher stink eye you’re showing! Lol! When I need to find out if a memory is true, I have to ask my next older brother, who remembers everything…dates, times, sayings. (I am the only girl with two older and two younger brothers.) Like you, I am not fond of the decorating process as my son and husband have never been helpers. My husband has many choice words about pulling all the stuff out of the garage. I have to say, though, every year my decorating gets simpler. I tell myself I like it that way! Lol. Finally, we did lots of that skating as kids in Michigan. Here in SoCal, we did roller skates! I love reading your posts, reflecting on the things you talk about, and learning about you, Marsha. Happiest of holidays, my friend.
xx Darlene
Oh, Darlene, wouldn’t we have fun just sitting down for a drink? I have a feeling we’d talk for hours and pick up where we’d left off the next day! Thank you for thinking I’m chic! I guess I’ve just never thought of myself as that. That’s part of why I started my blog…because there just didn’t seem to be anyone out there who was “normal” like me (and short and round)! Oh, I have to tell you my heart truly was broken when I discovered he’d gotten rid of my skates. He swore I’d never told him I wanted them. We went round and round and then I stopped talking to him.
My little brother might remember, but I doubt my little sister would. I’ll have to check with them. But, I’m pretty sure I’m right about the gifts!
Last year, when Mike (his real name) broke his ankle, I did drastically cut back on decorating. We were in the midst of the whole Covid thing. My youngest son did come over and carry some totes upstairs, but my heart just wasn’t in it. This year, I have cut back a bit. It seems every year, though, I use the same decorations just in a different way!
You know, I could never roller skate when I was a kid. But, when I was teaching, we would have roller skating night. I went then!!! I guess I had to prove something to my students!
I am so glad you enjoy my blog…I’m afraid I’m going to run out of things to talk about!!
Have a fabulous holiday season, Darlene!
Actually in reading your blog post I fear I may be the spouse that got rid of something sentimental! I tend to purge things often and I am rarely a sentimental person as I don’t think our memories lie with the objects themselves so I clear out anything we don’t use. Now I’m going to have to ask my husband… I know he complains a lot about how I throw everything away but it’s usually when he’s looking for something more recent that he left hanging around and I’m cleaning up.
I have been actively trying to not bring new things into the house just so I don’t have to purge them. We are considering downsizing our house (and we’re older so there’s always that whole Swedish death cleaning thing lurking in my mind) and that would mean lots and lots of purging!
I never considered myself sentimental until I took a long hard look at myself…yep, I’m a sentimental fool! I have ISTEP reports for my kids (ISTEP was a state testing program and my kids are in their late 30s and early 40s)! A friend said to just take a photo and that would remind me. I tried that with some things when we moved. It just wasn’t the same for me.
I’m more like your hubby in that I’m not as sentimental. Yep, I would have thrown those ice skates out too, haha. But Rob on the other hand, is totally like you!!!
I love that you have a pair of combat boots. Now if I could only get Lesley and my mom to get a pair (you could slyly suggest it on their upcoming posts occasionally, because you know they don’t listen to me, haha??)
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Hahaha! If YOU can’t influence them, I don’t know what I could do! I have another pair I’m on the fence about. They’re a matte black leather, and I think I was expecting shiny…because who doesn’t prefer shiny, right?
That’s funny you should say that about you and Rob. I always tease my daughter she married her mom because she is totally her dad! Her husband is a quite wonderful guy (and, I’m right about her marrying her mom because he’s just like me)!
Great memories and I can feel your pain finding out the skates had been thrown out. I was very sad when my mum threw all our old Christmas decorations away. I’d love to see you in my link up every Wednesday!
Thank you, Gail, I will do link up with you! Gosh, I feel kinda important being invited to link up! My mom was not sentimental at all, but she did keep lots of beautiful Christmas ornaments. I’m not sure what happened to those.
Nigel. *shakes my head*
That denim duster is beautiful. I can so see it paired with my Kantha. And those boots are fabulous.
IKR!! He literally had no idea why I was so upset. He does now, though! Isn’t this denim dress/duster just the best? I have yet to buy my first Kantha piece. I want some of those palazzo pants, but I just can’t decide. Maybe closer to spring!
And, I do love these boots!!!
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