Commun ty Matters December 2016
Parsons Presbyterian Manor
Memories of Christmas past
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Residents offer reflections on the season Violet Loffer
Piles of presents aren’t what Violet Loffer remembers about Christmases as a child. In fact, presents were more of an afterthought rather than the main attraction. After all, growing up in the Depression was vastly different from what most children experience today.
“We didn’t get many presents, no. But I remember one year, I got a doll. It wasn’t more than 8 inches tall. It cost a whole quarter. And we got some hard candies, and an orange. Dad even taught us to stick one of the round, hollow hard candies into the orange and suck juice from it,” said Violet. “It kind of hurt a little bit not getting very much, but we knew that’s just how it was. That was a treat. We lived in the country on the farm, and had chickens and cows and such. But those were lean years.” Violet also remembers another time when sacrifice was necessary. That was during the early 1940s when gas was rationed.
“My favorite part of the holidays was family getting together, but there were times when that was hard. When gas was rationed, you had to walk.We liked walking, but there were times when we didn’t see family because it was simply too far. I grew up near Caney, and had three brothers and one sister. We walked everywhere.” This emphasis on family gatherings carried on when Violet had her own children, all of whom have passed on. She never worried much about giving them too many gifts, because she knew just getting together with family was the most important thing. Now, she enjoys Christmas with all of her
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