BAH…..HUMBUG….ME, SCROOGE?

        Never in my wildest imaginings did I ever think I would consider myself as being “Scrooge” at Christmas but after reading this you might agree with me.

        Christmas for me is losing much of the excitement, the mystical endeavor, and thrill of being a part of one of the happiest times of the year.

Perhaps it is because I live in a large city where the hustle, bustle and frantic life here has almost overshadowed all the joy and child-like wonder the Christmas season has always brought me. Before Thanksgiving has even arrived, we are seeing signs of Christmas overshadow the treasured holiday of giving thanks. Back in the day, folks in Monroe never saw any signs of Christmas and Santa until Thanksgiving had past.

        I loved Patrick Graham’s editorial from the weekend edition of Nov. 23 & 24 entitled, “Get up off that couch and shop ‘til you drop,” about shopping locally. I think he was hinting to lay off the internet & cyberspace and literally go to town and shop, giving folks a feel for what it used to be like when I was young. Many of the stores lining Broad Street are beautifully decorated, not to mention the sidewalks and the historic court house is a true Christmas picture!

Getting ready for Christmas back then Monroe had more of a home-town feel than it does now with the influx of so many new families moving into town. We seemed to know everyone we saw and the joy of watching the town come alive as it prepared for Christmas was always so much fun. You knew all the store owners and knew they would treat you right. And talk about beautifully wrapped gifts and bows! We had Western Auto, Economy Auto, Aycock’s, Gallant Belk, Stowers (which later was transformed into Jac’s), and the jewelry stores and drug stores went all out in decorating giving a subtle nudge to the townsfolks that they would appreciate your stopping in. We got the best of the best.  Every so often our folks would make a trip to Atlanta for that special something you couldn’t seem to find in Monroe. Those trips to Atlanta back then were so much fun!! 

        One of my treasured Christmas photos is from the 1940’s.  My mother and her best friend, Mrs. Ed Almand, Jr., were captured by a sidewalk photographer as they strolled around Davison’s on Peachtree Street, dressed to the nines, their arms loaded with Christmas gifts. To me that picture captures perfectly the enjoyment of Christmas shopping back then.

        Thinking back decades I can recall the “Legends of Christmas Music.” We had Bing Crosby, Burl Ives, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Kate Smith, Perry Como, Eartha Kitt, Nat King Cole, Julie Andrews, Gene Autry, Barbra Streisand, Andy Williams, Jackie Gleason and Johnny Mathis.  Of that stellar list, only Burl, Johnny, Julie & Barbra remain, with Johnny now holding the mantle as the “King” of Christmas music.  When day begins to fade to night, I settle in the den with candles lit, the smell of a fir or balsam tree swirling about and, after fixing a glass of egg nog or other holiday libation, enjoy the Christmas music of the greats, all of whom can put anyone in a relaxed and festive mood. Today’s Christmas music leaves me a bit cold; not only do I not know the artist’s but many of the songs in vogue today I never heard of and can barely understand the words.  Give me the artists of yore over what passes as Christmas music today.

        Listening to the familiar songs and carols remind me of my younger days when the excitement of Christmas was tantamount to sensory overload for a youth or teen; when the tree was decorated with aluminum icicles and chains made from brightly colored construction paper that wrapped the tree in a vision of hand-made love.  There might have been strings of popcorn or cranberries wrapping the tree as well to add to the beauty of the old bubble lights so many trees had back then as the tree filled the room with its wonderful scent.

        Like so many kids of the time we would drive ourselves crazy wondering just what our stocking would hold on Christmas morning, always so very fearful that if we had not been good during the year Santa would leave us a big chunk of dirty coal!  What an embarrassment it would be to tell your friends that is what Santa left you. But, Santa being Santa, seldom left such an unhappy gift; I can well recall the joy of seeing a Lionel train set, a Flexi-racer, a can of Tinker Toys or Lincoln Logs, an Erector set, a Mr. Potato Head, a Slinky, an egg of Silly Putty or maybe some Play-Doh.  I must have been extra good one year to find a bicycle parked in front of the tree. And who can forget those square boxes wrapped so nicely only to discover a box of chocolate covered cherries from a well-meaning relative or a box of Reece’s miniature peanut butter cups?  The Reece’s cups were quickly devoured while the chocolate covered cherries sat there…and sat there, waiting to be enjoyed by another relative.

        Even though I was long past the innocence of childhood in December of 1965, everyone remembers when the premiere of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” brought smiles to our faces as we learned anew from the Peanuts gang the real meaning of Christmas.  That show is now legendary as well it should; for so many it was an integral part of their childhood Christmas.

        This year, losing a week between Thanksgiving and the first of December has put me in an Elvis Presley “Blue Christmas” funk…..There is not enough time to decorate the house as I want and to get all the baking done in time for friends to drop by for dessert and a glass of holiday cheer.  So my decorating has been paired down….way down, which depresses me. This year those who come to call will not see as much from years past.  NOT my fault; blame it on the calendar!  Having decade after decade of years piled on me makes it more difficult in racing hither and yon, up and down the attic stairs bringing down decorations to make the rooms sparkle. It might take me a little longer but the end result is always pleasing.  None of this “get a decorator to come and do it for you” business!  If I can’t do it the way I know to do and make it nice, I will go without!    

Age brings reflection and Christmas is a time for it. Remembering the many years of Christmas celebrations I have been a part of and the enjoyment of family dinners and gatherings of friends brings to mind wonderful stories and tales which always brings a smile along with a tear or two and makes me appreciate all the more the Christmas seasons of the past as many friends of yore are in memory and family is scattered in all directions.

So let the frantic hustle and bustle of today’s Christmas seasons come and go.  It can do nicely without any involvement from me. I appreciate Christmas the way it was meant to be with the tried and true customs of the season I continue to hold onto. Like Ebenezer Scrooge learned from the Ghost of Christmas Past, what is real and true remains with us throughout our lives and what is frivolous and flighty are swept away with the snow and wind leaving us with the real meaning of Christmas and what it stands for; remembering the birth of Jesus on this day and the continuing struggle for peace on earth and good will to all men.