Christmas Past and Present

Well, Santa made an appearance on our Christmas tree again this year. If I could be sure when he appeared the first time under my Christmas tree when I was a little girl, I could tell you how old he is. However, I don't remember exactly but I figure it is safe to say he is probably 65 years old or older. It is nice to have this small Santa figurine to remind me of Christmases past right here in the present.

We lived in the house on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids until December 18, 1961, and that is when we moved into our new home in Marion on Starry Drive. Patti was nearly three years old and Tony was about ten months old.

I remember thinking it was more work to move across town than it was to move from Kansas to Iowa. I suppose it is that way because one makes many trips back and forth instead of having a moving van pull up to the first house, load everything and then deliver to the new home. Then you only have to unload the boxes. Moving across town one gets to do it all!

We tried to set up the house the way we wanted it - furniture, etc. Then we needed to get a Christmas tree and prepare for the fast-approaching holidays. Back then, we went to the Christmas tree lot and bought a real tree. We got it whenever Chuck decided we'd go get it. That was usually not as soon as I would like to have the tree.

We did get the tree decorated that first Christmas in our new home. It wasn't up very long before the toddler boy, Tony, went to investigate. However it happened, the tree fell over, scared Tony, broke glass decorations and generally upset everyone. Of course, the tree was set up again, some replacement decorations were added and all was well.

When Patti and Tony were older, we decided we would get styrofoam balls about 2-3" in diameter and wrap them in swiss straw. Now swiss straw came on a roll like a ribbon. It was quite narrow but one had to put it in water and then spread it out to about 1/2" to 3/4" wide. I wrapped the balls while the swiss straw was still wet. Then it was necessary to let it dry before doing anything else.

When the balls were dry, the kids and I added sequins and made designs on the balls. We added hangers and decorated the Christmas tree with these new made-them-ourselves ornaments. It was fun to do this.

As the years went by, we decided to buy an artificial tree. So when I wanted to put the tree up and get it decorated, I could just go down to the basement, get the box, bring it upstairs, put it together. Then we could decorate the tree. I liked that better than having to wait to buy the real tree.

I don't know where those decorations are but we enjoyed making them and putting them on the tree.

Christmas present has us with an "pre-lit with white lights" artificial tree about seven feet tall. Don brings it in from the garage, sets it up with a little help from me. Then I add about 600 colored lights, glass ornaments plus some other special ornaments - and dear old Santa.

While I am busy with the tree, Don is busy setting up his "Clouston-Kincaide" Christmas village. He has a sledding hill, skating rink, Christmas tree lot, farm, and lots of people and dogs for the village.

Jewelry photos

The bottom five are completed Russian Spiral bracelets. The next two Russian Spiral bracelets are currently incomplete. The top bracelet is a helix and it needs a clasp.

I love making these pretty things!

This Day Will Live in Infamy

Sixty eight years ago today, Japan launced a sneak attack, in the early morning hours, on the US Navy base in the Hawaiian Islands. "Remember Pearl Harbor" became our battle cry.

The USS Arizona was sunk in the harbor and became the tomb of 900 sailors. Seven other battleships were in the harbor and only the USS Nevada was able to get underway during the bombing. Those who died or missing that day numbered 2,600. It was this event that caused the USA to be drawn into WWII.

I was seven years old and didn't understand what it was all about. It affected everyone. Sons and brothers and husbands went off to war. My beloved big brother, Bill, joined the army. I couldn't understandwhere "Billie" was and why he didn't come home to see us.

My twin brothers, Bob and Dick, enlisted in 1943 after they graduated from high school. They enlisted in the Army Air Corps and were stationed at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. It was very dusty there and they marched a lot. Dick was given a medical discharge because of his asthma. He came back home, got a job and stayed with my parents and me.

There were war bond drives. Every kid bought savings stamps at school. Then when we had enough stamps on our card, we traded the card (booklet, maybe it was) in for a war bond. We kids also helped collect newspapers and scrap iron. I think we used Jim's wagon to collect stuff.

Food and gasoline were rationed. Families had ration books with coupons that they could use for different foods, like sugar. People didn't travel much because of the gas rationing. I was promised a bicycle but I didn't get it until after the war was over because rubber went into keeping our military supplied - no rubber for bike tires!

The Arizona Memorial was created over the sunken battleship in the harbor. It was created by the order of President Eisenhower in 1958.

All people were affected by WWII. It was a solemn and worrisome time, much like it was on September 11, 2001. These two things have changed our lives forever. Both were totally unexpected and totally shocking. The news coverage of WWII was much different than the coverage of 9/11 - we watched that as it happened! It is difficult for me to understand that when people shout "Death to the Infidels" - they are talking about you and me and everyone who doesn't believe as they do. This is very scary.