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December 25, 2011

OUT AND ABOUT IN PERRIN: Christmas was always a time for family

Mineral Wells Index

By Kay Mealio | kaymealio@embarqmail.com

PERRIN – In response to how we hang our Christmas tree, it is an artificial one. I miss the smell of having a living tree, but the convenience of an artificial makes up for it.

I was raised in Dallas, but our family always traveled to Perrin for Christmas. We stayed with my mother’s parents, but my dad’s father and his sisters lived in Perrin too. We would go over to Papa Heath’s on Christmas Eve where we’d usually have dinner either at my Aunt Mae or Aunt Lois house. I asked my sister the other day if she remembered when the kids gathered around a really small TV to watch “A Christmas Carol” in black and white. Aunt Mae had a TV long before we got one, so this was really a treat. My sister, who is seven years older than me, said she didn’t think she watched it. Her and our cousins, Marion and Ann probably were out “cruising” downtown Perrin.

My grandfather, Bob Heath, always gave each of his grandchildren a silver dollar. I thought he was the richest man I knew. After eating, opening our gifts and playing with new toys, etc., we would go back over to Owen Brown, my mother’s parents house. With the excitement and anticipation of yet another round of presents in the offering, we kids were at a fever pitch of anxiousness. My aunt and uncle from Louisiana were there with more cousins.

In anticipation of Santa’s visit, we were all packed into one bedroom, four to a bed and pallets all around. One was honored to sleep in the small feather bed, which sunk down and up and over you, giving you a feeling of being enveloped in a big warm nest. We eventually fell asleep after a lot of giggling and whispering. Sometime in the wee hours of morning, we woke up. We’d start talking and contemplating on getting up, then we’d hear an adult’s voice telling us to get back to bed, it was too early to get up. We’d be quiet for a short time, and then we’d holler, “Can we get up now?” The answer was usually “NO!” Finally, after several persistent requests, the adults would let us get up. We did have to wait until they had their clothes on, the lights turned on and the coffee started.

Then we headed for the stockings loaded with pecans, walnuts, apples and oranges. Usually some of that wavy Christmas candy and maybe a small toy were in there too. Then the greatest, what Santa brought us.

Christmas dinner was turkey with all the trimmings and my grandmother’s famous dressing. No one can make it just like she did. Afterwards my parents, aunt, and uncle would close off the kitchen and clean up the dishes. I think they enjoyed this time alone without kids interfering. While we played with our new toys, the older cousins played football. It got pretty competitive but everyone had fun and there weren’t any serious injuries.

Here’s hoping you very many happy memories this Christmas.

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas!

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