The ghost of Christmas past's

Have had 2 weeks off and have been doing to much thinking about the future and how things could have been different if I had paid more attention in the past. I will not burden you with negativity on this holiday season like some might. What with Christmas eve being tomorrow and all some of my thoughts went to over 50 years ago. When I was a very young toe headed kid I was sent to live on my Grand parents farm down close to Conroy Iowa. Just a very small pimple on the map as most folks that lived around there were just old German farmers like my Grand parents. The town consisted of a Missouri synod Lutheran church, a small implement dealer and a grave yard and a hand full of small homes and a CO/OP. One of the things that I had almost forgotten about was the Christmas eve's of those years long ago. 1 thing for sure was that the cattle and the hogs and chickens needed to be taken care of and any other chores that needed done where attended to. Then the clean up in preparation for the Christmas eve services in town. Spit shined and the back of your ears cleaned away we went to town in the old Pontiac or the International pick up depending on the road conditions. After the service ( much of which was in German) we would trek back to the farm. Kinda a over the river and through the woods to grandmothers place we go kinda trip. The culmination of the evening would be a meal of oyster stew, pickled herring and several other goodies that you would never see as food on an old German farmers daily table but it was tradition. After the meal it was time for a young lad such as myself to go to bed in hopes Santa Claus would come during the night and leave me some goodies in my Christmas stocking.
After all this time I couldnt tell you what if anything I got in my Christmas stocking way back then but the memories are still with me about family and friends if I just take the time to clear out the cob webs of my mind.
We live in a much different world nowadays it seems but Linda and I hope all the best for all you and yours in this celebration of the birth of Christ.
Thinking back, the price of oysters to make the stew on C.E. had to be a burden especially since there was so much beef and pork and chicken in the larder at them times. But then, back then my G.M used to make what she called kringles. A pretzel shaped cookie with sugar and cinnamon on top. She never would give me the recipe. After she died I found out it was just left over bread dough that she had when making home made bread from scratch and she was to ashamed to tell me. Good God, I better quit typing.
Merry Christmas one and all.

 

Great read Butcher!

Merry Christmas!

 

...............And that Charlie Brown is what Christmas is all about. I love our small town rural American heritage. Thanks so much Butcher . Have a wonderful Christmas and spread those memories and traditions to a new generation!

 

Butcher, these are the tales that you pass on down to "youngers". Just make sure that they are old enough and mature enough to appreciate it or the memory will be lost.

Thanks for sharing it with us; I'm sure you got everyone reminiscing about their own early Christmases!

 

Merry Christmas Butcher!

 

Merry Christmas Butcher to you and Linda.....May God bless you in 2017. I as well have many childhood Christmas memories, one that comes to mind was my Huffy bicycle with banana seat. Something like this but lighter green.

 

Ha! I remember those too! With the slick rear tire!

 

Up here a bicycle company called CCM used to make those called Mustang (IIRC). Those of us, who were too financially challenged (or had parents who were to "practical"), had to buy the "ape hangers" and banana seats at our local Canadian Tire to slap on our old beaters. Had a lot of fun doing wheelies with those.

 

You ROCK, Butcher !!
My grandmom was hell on wheels...5 children / 3 dawgs in a row house in Philly...1 daily pack of Luckys ( in a good week)....case of Ballantine...
-passed as a young woman- 56yo....
Pop was a house painter...Oil based!!

Merry Christmas !!

 

Oh believe me we weren't well off but had all we needed, Mom knew how to make 65 meals with hamburger and could squeeze a nickel till it turned to a dime. The cool kids got the Schwinn 5 speed banana bikes.....I still wouldn't trade my childhood.

 

Yes, we all seemed to turn out ok, Mustang bikes (or the lack thereof) not withstanding.

 

I had that bike (same color) in the five speed version. I wasn't cool, even though I thought I was when I was on it. It cost me $43.??. Those were the good ol' days.

 

Cool, I actually found an advert for the thing:

 

Merry Christmas Butcher

 

Have you ever thought abut putting together a collection of quick short stories for publication?


Seriously?