Two Christmas Memories On 26th Avenue

Christmas Eve, we girls were awakened by a racket in the yard.

A typical 1950’s Christmas tree (decorated by the kids!)

I was about 4 years old. Christmas was coming, and although I didn’t know the whole story, I could picture Santa Claus, and knew I was going to get presents if I was good. Everyone was excited, so I was, too!

The girls’ and boys’ bedrooms were separated by the kitchen refrigerator. Our room faced the backyard, and on Christmas Eve, we girls were awakened by a racket in the yard. Clanging, pounding, and a lot of cursing. We ran to the window, to see my Daddy and Uncles, struggling put together what looked to be…could it really be?? “It’s a SWINGSET!” My sister whispered loud enough for the neighborhood to hear. I got the idea that we weren’t supposed to know about this. “Go get the boys!,” she ordered my other sister, who was already on her way to get the them. We all stood at the window, ducking when the men turned our way. It was obviously supposed to be a surprise, we assumed, so we made a pact. We would all ACT very surprised when they showed this gift.

Christmas morning FINALLY came, and we rubbed our tired eyes, as our parents walked us to the back door, to see our big gift.No doubt, we overacted our part, and no doubt, our parents knew we were acting, because there was no way all that racket would have gone, unnoticed by five curious children, on Christmas Eve.

The following year, my mother (who despised the sight of a sewing machine), decided she was going to sew us girls matching nightgowns. We must have needed them real bad! They were adorable, with ruffled neckline and wrists. The following morning, she heard giggling coming from our bedroom. We were having a great time over something. My mother peeked in, and we were all looking at our hands, which were bright blue, due to the elastic on the gown wrists, which was obviously too tight. She had those gowns off of us in 2 seconds. We thought it was great fun, having blue hands. She clipped the elastic, and we got out Christmas nightgowns back…She gave up sewing that year.

Sharon Hudson 2024