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jnsplll -vi x ><' £'* v 4tfßK£Bl HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL More memories of Christmases past We started last week with a roundup of Christmas memories starting all the way back during the Great Depression and leading up to the 1970 s and 80s. Here are more from Larry Walker, Michael Stanley and Terry Everett Rocking chairs and a pot-bellied stove By Larry Walker Now I know that it was a very small room - perhaps 15 by 18 feet. In it were a bed, two rocking chairs, Grandma’s dresser, a pot-bellied stove, and later, a black and white television. Often, in the winter, and usually at Christmas, it was cold. On the floor was cheap lino leum - reddish brown in color. It was probably put down in 1946 or early 1947. I know, because Janice and I took up the floor covering in the 1990’s and there were news papers (probably put down for insulation) with stories on Georgia’s ‘three Governor controversy’. Herman Talmadge’s pictures were splashed all over the papers. This room is where we gathered for Christmas - at least ten of us, including Grandma and Papa, Mother, Daddy, David, Uncle Jim, Aunt Lillian, James, Clyde and me. Later, Lynda and Charles joined us. As we visited, Papa cut holes in oranges for us to suck, cut sugar cane, and tended to the fire burning in the stove. He would go out to the wood pile to get wood to keep the fire going. Sometimes, I would go with him. The adults talked and we children listened. It was wonderful, and I think of it often, and this is one of my enduring memories of Christmas. I remember the excitement of Santa Claus’ coming, but I remember few specific gifts. I’ll never forget the Christmas gatherings in that little room in the very modest home on a dirt road in rural Washington County, Georgia One strand of tinsel at a time By Michael Stanley I have some wonderful fond Christmas memories. For starters, all seven of us would hang our stockings on a clothesline about three feet longstrung between the front door and the hall closet on the eve of St. Nicholas day, December 6th. Saint Nick didn’t fill them until Christmas Eve, but there they hung as a reminder that Christmas would soon be here We always had a real Christmas tree, a Canada bal sam fir that we all had a hand in decorating. When it came to tinsel, though, that was the exclusive domain of my mother. She stayed up all night it seemed, hang ing each strand of tinsel individually and just so. She never liked the plastic stuff either. It had to be the leaded stuff. Can you imagine anyone hanging that much lead on a Christmas tree with seven kids around in this day and age? Holy Chinese imports, no! It turns out we all grew up crazy, but I don’t think it was the lead. Nowadays, I hear of people who have children with birthdays in December who plan half-year par ties to put some distance between the birthday and Christmas. Well, my brother’s and my birthdays are Dec 7th and 9th. As a child, it never occurred to me that this was that close to Christmas. That two and a half weeks seemed interminable! All I remember is we had to hurry and finish my cake before my brother’s birthday! Lots and lots of memories; my neighbors’ bubble lights, my Nana and Pop-pop’s Art Deco Aluminum tree with the rotating colored spotlight illuminating it... Whether or not Santa brought everything on our lists was never a concern. Everyone was happy with their gifts and, as it turns out, the best gift was the treasured memories and traditions that each of us car ried into adulthood. A little book of Lifesavers By Terry Everett One of the most fascinating things I emember ever getting was the little book of all the Livesaver flavors when the little book package first came out. I still smile when I see them today, i think i didn’t eat the candy until Easter or so. i just sort of fondled the little book package and opened it and closed it repeatedly until it was almost unhinged. It seemed to be an unlimited supply of life savers since we didn’t get candy all of the time like kids do today. I’m not sure how much the little pack age thing cost back then, but it couldn’t have been very much since they aren’t very expensive now. I lived in the country, so some time around Christmas, we would go to either Chattanooga or Gadsden to sit in Santa’s lap and tell him what we wanted for Christmas, we would see Santa at the end of the various small town Christmas parades we attended as well, i was five years older than my sister and I had older cousins than I. The cousins told me that if i told my parents I didn’t believe in Santa, I would stop getting stuff. When my sister was in the second grade she told me that a kid told her there was no Santa so I told her not to tell or we would quit getting stuff from Santa. I think we were probably teenagers before our par ents finally told us there was no Santa. CLUBS BIRTHS l '''v ' ' V ■mm \ IHp Wk'F “*lll 8 x wWORW W 3jh vJB b s, b ti; H|B ah. flfjßH m Jm ! W'\\ - mm. * ! 1•. *■■ v j{ vis 1 BBi m HHHn Journal/Charlotte Perkins Bessie Scott is surrounded by the Houser daughters, Kateri, Angela, Michaela and Hannah, who helped by carrying lumber for the building of her new back porch, as well as Margie Deaver, in the blue sweater. With a little help from her friends Volunteer team from ‘Rebuilding Together’ makes daily life easier for disabled Warner Robins woman By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Journal Staff. Writer Anyone who has limited mobility knows the real * -»'# j SB i I fjf Ji v" WMm -vS-> f * w &'j£NM ■■Si Most of the volunteers helping with the extension to Bessie Scott’s bedroom, and the building of her new handi capped-accessible bathroom are members of Our Lady of the Skies Base Chapel at Robins Air Force base. Shown here are, from left, Fr. Thomas Fey, jim Guschenritter, Jackie and Mike O’Brien, team captains; Bessie and Nancy Scott; Rebuilding Together CEO Jerome Stephens; Elmer Waterman, Paul Houseer, Marty Habecker, Marjorie Liaguna and Ronald Gregory. Many others were involved, including Rich Selle, who was the electrician for the proj- This Christmas, I wish... This Christmas, I wish for all those who are sick and suffering to be comforted and made well again. This Christmas, I wish for all those who are lonely to be remembered and visited by some one. This Christmas, I wish for all those who are homeless to be warm and fed. This Christmas, I wish for all those who are suf fering from mental illness to be understood and unconditionally loved. This Christmas, I wish for all those who are in prison to find forgiveness and peace. This Christmas, I wish for all those who are poor to have their physical needs met. This Christmas, I wish for all those who harbor ill feel ings and resentment to be able to forgive, and live fully. This Christmas, I wish for all those protecting our county abroad to find safety and to be reunited with their loved ones. This Christmas, I wish for all those who have been aban doned to find a home. This Christmas, I wish for all those have lost a loved one to find sympathy. "Day to c/ay toe county way" meaning of “handicapped access.” The width of a door suddenly becomes crucially important. Getting in and out of the shower can pres ent insurmountable difficul ties. And just try getting a wheelchair up to a bathroom sink. *•_- Bessie«~Soett all about those problems. She has two kinds of This Christmas, I wish for all those who have been victimized to find solace. This Christmas, I wish for all those who suffer from addiction to find recovery. This Christmas, I wish for all those who are fac ing death to find comfort and peace. This Christmas, I wish for all those who are care givers to be remembered and appreciated. This Christmas, I wish for all those who have been abused to find healing and comfort. This Christmas, I wish for all those who are weak to find strength. This Christmas, I wish for all those who are tired 11 Angela Lineberger Me and the Boys to find rest. This Christmas, I wish for all of you to be filled with love, joy, and peace. Merry Christmas and God bless you. Angela Lineberger lives in Perry with her husband Kerry and five boys, Tully age 15, and Tal, Hunter, Ben, and Luke, age 12. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2007 ♦ arthritis,both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis - and in recent years her daily life became increasingly diffi cult. 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