The Citizen, 1995-12-20, Page 31Wishing you a
safe and happy
holiday season
George & Matt
Townsend
MGM TOWNSEND TIRE 523-4742
1 1/4 miles east of Londesboro on County Rd. 15
After hours 522-1629 or 523-9190
N
O
E
L
From all of us, go our
deepest thanks to you
for being such good
customers and friends!
Darryl, Karen, Derek and Laura
YOUNGBLUT'S PLUMBING & HEATING
Blyth 523-9383
John, Ann, Paul & Greg
JOHN MCKERCHER
CONSTRUCTION ETD.
RR. #2 Bluevale 887-9061
Happy Holidays
In the spirit of this holiday season, we thank '
you for your business, loyalty and friendship.
And we look forward to a continuing, happy
relationship in the years to come.
Warmest wishes to your family from ours.
Londesboro Seed Plant
Bob, Marsha, Kerrie & Jennifer Szusz
(
We're pleased to extend
our holiday best to our
many customers whose
friendship we've come to
cherish and whose
kindness and support we
so truly appreciate.
Scrimgeour's
Food Market
Blyth 523-4551
•
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1995. PAGE 31.
`I have been a really good girl'
DEAR SANTA,
I would like the base of ocwazon,
and never adventure Pirateship. I
love you Santa Claus and Mrs.
Claus and please may I have a
snowy puzzle with you in it?
From Kyle Griffiths
Walton P.S.
TO SANTA,
As a special treat for our readers
this holiday season, we invited the
director of education with the
Huron County Board of Education
and the principals from our area
elementary schools to share with us
a Christmas story.
We acknowledge and thank those
who took the time from their
administrative duties to be part of
our Season's Greetings issue.
By Paul Carroll
Director of Education
Huron County Education System
In the shadows of my mind -
back there in the dusty corner
marked 'childhood' — I have locked
away some very special memories
of Christmas. The most important
recollection, for whatever reason,
dates back some 45 years to an
annual ritual followed in my
family.
We four children had to prove
ourselves to Santa by producing
some toy or other special gift from
a previous year — and showing it to
be in good condition. Evidence of
care, and mindful use, was
required. Doing so would earn us
the right to have a new gift on
Christmas morning. And if we
could not, the threat of 'lumps of
coal' formed part of our childhood
Christmas lore.
The week before Christmas 1950
dwindled to just two or three days
to go! I was still searching out the
special toy from '49 that would best
demonstrate my entitlement to
something sparkling and new this
year. It was a problem; a real
challenge!
The main treasure from the
previous year was a pressed metal
truck. It used to sport some bright
enamelled colour, probably red.
But it had suffered miles and miles
of use that year. And it surely must
have been a -rainy summer, because
not a trace of the original bright
hue was left to be seen. Rust, it
seems was the order of the day. But
it still had all four wheels - and the
rubber tires were not in too bad
shape.
With more than just a little fuss, I
convinced Dad that a paint job
would be in order! Now Father
wanted us to grow up self reliant.
Instead of doing it for me, he
offered me a brush, a rag, and the
only tin of paint that was around:
Tile red! A dull, almost rusty red
(that he used every year to freshen
up the concrete steps at the front of
the house) was all that the meagre
family budget of those days could
spare for such a task.
But, despite the limitations, I set
out to paint. I would show care and
regard for my four-wheeled
treasure. And I would do it as well
as my six-year-old hands could
summon.
By Christmas Eve it was ready;
not particularly shiny and bright -
but quite respectable and clean.
'Tile red' wasn't all that bad,
especially for a truck that had
worked so hard day in and day out
throughout the previous year! And
it had just the right kind of sheen to
look beyond reproach.
I would like to have a rocking
horse. I have been a really good
girl. My dog's name is Launch Pad.
My brother's name is Eric. I have
one brother and one sister.
From Becky Mulholland
Walton P.S.
TO SANTA,
I would like a computer, a Fkarbie
doll, new clothing, baby slip and
I can still remember clearly,
placing it with tender care, on the
arm of the chesterfield, closest to
our decorated spruce tree (We
always had a natural tree — and in
spite of dropping needles, spruce
was always the variety of choice!).
If I pointed the front of the truck to
the back of the couch, then Santa
would surely see the cookies; the
milk and the carrot for Rudolph I
would place in the box at the rear!
And he did — and they were (as
they were every year!) partly
consumed the next morning. A
single bite from each cookie, at
least one swallow from the glass
and a nibble from the carrot
confirmed that Santa and his lead
reindeer had been right there in that
room - right there at our tree: to
inspect the toys from Christmas
past, to sample the treats left to
give him strength on his busy night,
and best of all, to leave new
slurp, baby somersault, money,
trolls, littlest pet shop and Don't
Wake Up Dad.
Thank you for the toys.
Can you please give me a teddy
bear? Do you help Rudolph shine
his nose?
Please can I have some games
and puzzles?
From Sarah Johnston
Walton P.S.
treasures for the four of us to open
Christmas morn.
I always got up far too early on
Christmas day. It was bad enough
to have to tiptoe quietly to the tree
in the pre-dawn light. Sure
wouldn't want to waken Mom, and
especially Dad, who slept in their
room just beyond the tree! Wow! It
worked again. He'd been back!
Large parcels. Far too many.
Pounding hearts. Time in perpetual
slow motion.
Another ritual: breakfast before
the tree! And another: off to
church. We always went to church
as a family on Christmas morning.
In those days, we would join
Granny and crusty old Grandad at
St. George's Church. Six rows back
was the family pew — and we never
missed a Sunday through the year
either!
Ah, but what a wait to get back to
Continued on page 33
Recalling Christmas 1951