Sharing some Christmas memories with my big sister today of our “under privileged” childhood, before our parents took regular paying jobs, but produced a gaggle of needy children, nonetheless.
Dad was a struggling, self-employed author at the time, and shipped out his own books. So often we didn’t have a tree, but instead decorated a large “Christmas Box” made from a used shipping carton. We put our little gifts inside it for our brothers and sisters.
Mom taught piano and voice; parents drove their children out into the country for $1.25 a lesson and were billed for it monthly from her Royal Typewriter propped up in the sewing room. We had to stay quiet so as not to disturb the lessons being taught on the baby grand in the music room.
Some years, my creative sister would produce original skits for our parents, the creaking hallway sliding double-doors served as curtains, while the next act readied itself. I produced a fake adjustable mike for shorter siblings: sliding yardsticks sleeved in tinfoil.
Gifts opened, off to bed; mom headed to town to sing in the annual night time “Jingle Bells” Christmas radio fundraiser where callers would request performances in exchange for pledges. Too late for us to listen in on KXRA, mom eventually cooled on her volunteer gig when she learned that (gasp) some of the emcees had taken an alcoholic drink!
These Christmas eve memories come in a mash-up of years and conflicting recollections, but one I hold true:
Upon learning that the Rolfsruds wouldn’t have a real Christmas tree, a parent of one of mom’s students drove by briefly, and tossed a fresh Christmas tree onto our front lawn. We quickly grabbed it and decorated it with tinsel and bulbs. Wonderful, such a neat gift. Such a beautiful addition.
But it would be years later that I would grasp and appreciate the true beneficiary of that unexpected kindness; it was not us, but the thoughtful giver who would have been undoubtely endowed with that Super Feeling that comes with the True Spirit of Christmas.
May you all experience that on this blessed day.
