I enjoy sharing the Christmas' of my childhood with you. Now I don't want you to think that my family is without its drama, because it's not. For me Christmas is the season of Joy and that is what I like to share with you.
I was my grandfather's sidekick. If there were things to do outside I was right there with him, I did not enjoy doing housework, well that and grandfather paid. With grandmother and my mom the work was done for free. So any chore that my grandfather asked for I did, I never asked for any money he would just give me some at the end of the week. This particular Christmas I was about 9 years old, it was Christmas Eve, and I had just helped grandfather bring wood into the house for the fireplace.
My grandfather kept a fire going from October until Spring. After lugging log after log he said "here", and handed me $5.00, then he said he needed to go to the store and asked if I wanted to go. I said yes because I knew what I wanted to get.
We headed to the grocery for some last minute items and I went straight to the candy aisle. I spent all of the money on candy and soda. Back then you could get a pack of Nowlaters for $0.10 as well as lemon heads, and red hots. The soda was Faygo, a 16oz bottle cost $0.25.
That night in the bedroom listening to the AM station give the update of where Santa was and me sharing my hoard with my little cousin was the best ever. And on all future Christmas Eve's it was the only time our parents let us eat that much candy at one time.
When I got older my grandmother finally asked me why I never liked doing housework inside but would always be with grandfather. I laughed and told her "grandfather gave me $5.00 every week for the chores I did." Grandfather had never made a big todo about the money and neither had I. He always made the holidays special for the entire family in his own way and I hope some of the traditions that he implemented still continue on.
See you tomorrow!
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