Christmas In Calgary

Awww Christmas, the BEST time of the year!! Our Christmastime was spent at Gramma and Grampa's in Calgary. Dad would pack that car full of 5 kids, luggage, gifts, bedding, and all kinds of goodies (how did he do it?!?!?!) and off we'd go on a 2hr trip that seemed to take FOREVER!!
"I'm going to throw up!!!" I HATE CAR SICKNESS!

Upon arriving we were warmly greeted with smiles, hugs and extra arms, which were greatly needed!! The house smelled of freshly baked bread, kielbasa, perked coffee and a mixture of other delicious aromas not easily identified. Ummmmmm!

I would just love to investigate the living room where the tree sat resplendent with lights, garland, ornaments, and icicles. It seemed I never tired of studying each of the glass birds, urns, mushrooms, teddy bears, etc. (How I wish I had them today!!). The room seemed to glow! Grampa would usually be sitting by the fireplace watching the kids around the tree trying to read the name tags on the gifts. "Don't touch, don't touch!!!"

Soon there would be more family arriving, Aunt Mary & Uncle Jim with the boys, Ricky, Danny, and Frankie. Before long, Uncle Tom & Aunt Gwen would arrive, and soon after Aunt Olga & Uncle Lew with Donny would appear. Aunt Rose still lived at home. Everyone would converge in the living room and kitchen, either eating, visiting or playing, causing the house to nearly burst at the seams with gleeful activity that would last late into the night. "Time to go to bed!"

We slept all over the house, in nooks and crannies on Gramma's homemade quilts with a down filled pillow. I vividly remember laying on a makeshift bed wondering if Santa was here RIGHT NOW, will I get that doll I saw in Eatons, is there a soft place anywhere on this quilt?!?!? Invaribly mom would come by with an overcoat to place on top of each of her children fearing we were cold. I usually was and once mom placed that extra layer on me, I was off to sleep dreaming of what was to come.

FINALLY, it was time to get up! No one was allowed to open gifts until all others were gathered around the tree, and the gifts were given out one at a time while the rest watched patiently until the recipient unwrapped their gift and presented their goods, then on to the next. When I was 8 I asked for clothes, in particular, box pleated skirts, angora sweaters and knee socks. I opened these with such excitment...I can still see them. My skirt was charcoal gray with two different sweaters, one pale pink and the other pale yellow....and knee socks to match the sweaters! Of course I received a ton of toys, bath soaps, jewelry, and "beauty supplies". After the gifts were opened and we had time to check out what the rest of the kids got, it was our responsibility to carry our loot to our "bedrooms". "Hey, that's not yours!! Mom, he won't give me my radio!!"

After a delightful few days, it would be back to Lethbridge and back to our own beautiful tree, which was lovingly and patiently decorated by Dad. He would spend hours placing a light on the branch just so. The velvet green and red ropes were draped with care. I LOVED the glass ornaments that we kids were allowed to carefully place on the tree....but when it came to the icicles, NO ONE but dad could hang those!! Each one was place so that it would hang freely, not too close to this or that. Sigh...it would take forever!!

A good time was had by all.