Memories of Christmas Toys and More Fun

 

Many of us need a few days of rest after all the family visits over the last week or so.  As I remember what made those memorable moments so lively is truly a combination of the people, the food, the toys, and did I mention the toys.  I have already recalled the Christmas of 1963 when I received the Sears Typewriter from Santa.  But  I remember the Christmas of 1964 in a very different way.  It was the first Christmas after my grandmother, Mama Lowe, passed away.  I think my parents were trying to keep us busy and provide plenty of activity for the family.  It was also the year that my sister graduated from High School. She was attending the T Duff School of Cosmetology, so was not at home all the time. Big brother, Joe was fully involved at Tennessee Tech, and working at the radio station, WPTN in Cookeville.  Wayne was a  Sophomore at Jo Byrns High School, and had a busy fall playing football, and working at the feed mill.  Denny was finishing his last year at Cedar Hill Elementary School, he spent a lot of time riding his ponies, and working at the feed mill.  Wayne and Denny would hook up Mr. Hawkins buggy , so we could ride the buggy with the ponies.  They had ridden in the Robertson County Fair Parade that September with the buggy, and enjoyed the experience.  We certainly enjoyed watching the parade that year.

I was just an aggravating little brother, and I’m sure there were times when they preferred I would be quietly playing somewhere. I didn’t have a bicycle yet, and I was a speed racer on my well-worn tricycle.  We had a concrete floor in our garage, and I could turn a mean speed on the tight circles. My sister’s graduation had brought several family members in for the events.  Mama Lowe had worked with Beverly to make a beautiful blue dress with a moire rose pattern.  I believe the dress was made for Senior Night, and my sister was beautifully dressed and looked the part of a proud graduating Senior.  In order to accommodate the families of the Seniors, they had made little badges with red ribbon streamers for the reserved family seats for graduation.  I remember Beverly pinning that little badge on Mama Lowe.  That was a special night.

My grandmother left a few days after graduation to head out to Oklahoma City to visit Aunt Martha and family  That was the last time we would send her off on a train.   She died that June and her body was sent back on the train to Bowling Green.  I was riding my tricycle in the garage, when the phone rang – it was a long distance call from Aunt Martha.  We were all stunned by the news.  All the joy of graduation, turned to grief, and as I look back some 60 years – I can see how hard the loss of Mama Lowe was on my sister. 

I’m sure it was hard on all of us, but my parents had to deal with the estate including a sale of the property and contents in Bowling Green. My Aunt Ione gave me the listing of the buyers from the sale that was included in the Estate Papers that Uncle Ralph had kept, and she knew that I would appreciate those details.  Before the sale, each of the grandchildren was allowed to choose an item from Mama Lowe’s corner cupboard.  I chose her Lenox Peacock sculpture. I had always admired it, and she would get it down, and let me examine it more closely.  I won’t go into the details of what everyone chose, but I remember those choices very clearly.

The holidays came on us very  quickly that year.  My parents, and Uncle Ralph and Aunt Ione decided we would have Christmas Dinner in Bowling Green that year at Ralph and Ione’s house.  We would have the 1965 Dinner at our house in Cedar Hill…We had gathered for Christmas Eve normally in Cedar Hill, but we had extra company.  My Uncle Junior ‘Ernie’, Aunt Novice and Dianna, along with Uncle Kenny, Aunt Martha and Jimmy were saying with us. I remember visiting with Santa earlier that December at Gamble’s Hardware in Springfield.   I told him I wanted a little Santa, and maybe a G.I. Joe or a Secret Agent action figure.  I had been excited about my Christmas shopping that year.  I mentioned the great gifts I purchased at Gregg’s 5 & 10  in an earlier article.

Bev with all those stuffed toys, and Wayne with a paint set

My sister received several stuffed animals and a doll.  In retrospect, she was missing Mama Lowe, and was not her usual cheerful self.  I didn’t understand the same feeling of loss, as a young adult was experiencing.  My big brother, Joe, unwrapped his tie-tac and shared that classic smile and thanks.

It is much easier for me to understand how the evening was different that year. I can’t imagine how my Dad was dealing with the loss of his Mother, and trying to carry on for his family.  We opened our gifts for Christmas Eve, and headed to bed to await Santa, and Christmas Day.

I didn’t  pop up quite as early since we had extra folks in the household.   But the movement began about 6 am.  We shuffled around quietly since our bed rolls were all around the room.  I found my stocking filled with oranges, apples, bananas, and some great chocolate drops.   Standing near the stocking at attention was a little Santa and a G.I. Joe in full camouflage. Santa came through again.  My Dad received a new recliner chair from Santa, and he was testing in out while were sorting through all our new treasures.

It wasn’t long until I heard Dad say – it’s time to get ready – we’re heading to Bowling Green in an hour.  So the crowd of people began to make time in the one bathroom house – to prepare for that annual trip to Kentucky on Christmas Day.   This time we were headed to Ralph and Ione’s house which was on Sherwood Lane out past Fairview Cemetery.   We passed our Aunt Ruth’s house – widow of Uncle Getty (the police officer).  Our Great-Grandmother Ida Lowe lived with Aunt Ruth.  As we drove into the Lowe household, cousins, Don & Linda greeted us. As we entered the house, the smells of Aunt Ione superb dinner greeted each of us.  There was lots of Merry Christmas- Hugs – and laughter.   In a few minute, Aunt Ruth and Great-Grandmother Ida arrived.  That was a special Christmas Day.

My Great-Grandmother Ida was on the right in this picture. Her twin sister, Ada, is on the left. They both married Lowe men. 

There were more gifts, hugs, and special thoughts shared that day.  Family is often what makes the special times together so wonderful, but occasionally the losses make those special times a little more difficult.  I have learned from experience that talking about our losses and sharing special stories help us all feel more complete.

(Next Edition: Preparing for the New Year)