REMEMBERING MORE SIMPLE TIMES

12-16-08...REMEMBERING MORE SIMPLE TIMES

Christmas Eve always found us in The little Church that I grew up in. We had a Big Christmas tree and our parents ( we found out later) took us each a christmas package to put under the tree. Santa would be there at the end of the program and each kid got to sit on his lap and he gave us our gift. The program came first. Some of the men had built a platform that we could stand on. One got to stand on the top who was the Angel. Then two, then three, and on till it came to the bottom. When we all got on it looked like a Christmas tree with an angel on top. We all wore colorful tops for decoration and held an ornament as we sang Christmas songs. The Parents and grown ups loved it. Can't say that we did. It was way too confining. We knew better than to make mischief in Church so the only calamaties were an occasional dropped ornament. Mama and Daddy said it was soo! pretty.Well Of course Mama and Daddy thought so.
After the music we would put on a play about the birth of Jesus. If there were any bables there we had a live Baby Jesus who often cried and disrupted the whole thing. The baby would quickly be replaced with a doll and the show would go on!! We all participated even the little ones. Now I loved the play, most of us did. I was Mary one year and held a real live baby. Mama said I kept bending over and kissing the baby but I don't remember doing that. I know I've always loved babies.
My Brother Norman was the baby one year. I was almost five and I wanted to be Mary but it wasn't my turn and Brenda was Mary. Well I sure was jealous of that. Norman was a good baby and hardly ever cried but for some reason that year he did. Brenda didn't want to give him up though so when Mama came to get him she said NO! I wanna keep him here. No one was making a big deal of it and Brenda would have finally given him up if I had just of kept my nose out of it. Brenda give my baby brother to Mama I said. The teacher was trying to get me to be quiet but of course I wouldn't. Nooo! Clydene Shut Up, Brenda said. Well durn you Brenda (I thought but didn't say) I got up from my spot on the floor at Jesus' feet and grabbed for my Brother. By now he was screeching. I got THE LOOK! from Mama and so did Brenda but not before I reached out and snatched Brendas scarf off her head pulling her hair in the process. She screeched and almost dropped Norman but Mama rescued him, gave us The Look and sat back down in her seat. Someone gave Brenda the doll and tied her scarf back on. The teacher sat me back down and I guess you think the Show went on. RIGHT?? Well WRONG!! By then all the people in the audience were snickerin' and trying not to laugh out loud. They probably would have succeeded and restored order if Brenda and I hadn't looked at each other and started giggling. We giggled and giggled and everyone else giggled and giggled. Somebody must have decided it was time for Santa to appear and save the show, which he did. HO HO HO!! we heard and there was quiet. We sat there like a bunch of little Angels and waited on the gift giving and lap sitting. I don't know who Santa was that year but He knew us and had seen what happened so we were brought up to the front. Brenda and I both got a knee and a talking to before we got our gifts from Santa. We hugged each other said our sorry's and it was done. We had food and all loaded up and went home where Santa had been to our houses. We thought it was all forgotten. I still don't know if Brenda got a tanning, but I did. Mama and Daddy never forgot those tannings> NOPE NEVER! I suspect Brenda got one too but really it was my fault so I know I deserved it. YEP! I always got what I deserved whether good or bad!!!