A Christmas diary of ‘remember whens’ by HELEN LEDFORD I am now the last living child of Mama’s 10 children, and it is often a lonely place to be. My one remaining brother passed away a couple of years ago. Bill was my hero, and he left a hole in my heart and a void in our family that can never be filled. He was funny, smart, wise, a talented artist/photographer, gentle-spirited and sweet-natured – definitely a “John-Boy Walton” type! As I quietly sit and reflect on decades of Christmases spent at our family’s homeplace in Caswell County, I smile at the memories of what a good life we all had together. If time and circumstances could be reversed, our clan would likely gather together once again to share some stories, laughter, tears, and countless warm holiday memories. It would most surely be a noisy, animated session, with
many of our boisterous conversations beginning with the preface, “Remember when…” My memories take me back to one of Mama’s prized possessions, a time-worn tablecloth which was used only once a year. It was imprinted with large red hibiscus blooms and lovely greenery. When the festive tablecloth appeared, we knew Christmas was near. That cherished table covering is probably stashed away in a box or a drawer somewhere at the family farm home. Chances are that it may still carry some vague essence of turkey gravy or cranberry sauce. A special “remember when” for all of us was that Mama waited until Christmas Eve to wrap her presents! They were mostly socks or other practical items for both male and female members of the family. Nobody dared go upstairs where
Merry Christmas and thanks to our community for allowing us to serve you!
our busy mother had secluded herself, but we could hear furtive sounds of rattling tissue paper, mysterious bumps and quiet mumblings. When she finally emerged with her gift bounty, it was with a
backside for a few days!
sheepish grin and a quick trip to the “front” room where the decorated cedar tree was standing. Festivities would begin as soon as siblings arrived with their spouses and children. And there is the memory of a Christmas day long ago when two of my sisters got into a fight. The younger, Ethel, grabbed Jewell’s new doll (delivered by Santa that morning) and threw it into one of our wood heaters. Needless to say, it burned to a crisp! I wasn’t around at the time, but I am positive little Ethel found it extremely difficult to sit on her
If I could meet once again with my nine brothers and sisters, I might jog their memory and ask if they recall the day our house almost caught fire. It was very near Christmas, with snow on the ground. Originally, our house was made of rustic logs; later, the logs were covered on the outside. In Mama’s room, there was a heater with its flue pipe attached to an opening in the log wall which was safely reinforced by a square of heavy metal. There was a fire in the small stove, but someone had placed some newspapers and pieces of cardboard inside and suddenly the heater became dangerously hot and totally glowed red. Smoke started
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DEC. 16, 2021 - JAN. 5, 2022
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