Wow! Christmas time again. If you really think about it, at the age 12, a year passes in just 10% of your life. At age 50, a year is only 2% of your time. Maybe this explains why the holidays sneak up on us as we get older?

I remember Christmas at Grandma Crothers…the real tree decorated with so many big lights and the lead "icicles" that I used to love to collect and roll into heavy balls. The real "bubble" lights that never seemed to run out of air to bubble up! I could sit, transfixed, for hours just looking at those lights! The mystery of the packages under the tree. If I was lucky, I could read a nametag. Touching a package was so forbidden, I never even considered it!

My parents, my little brother Timmy, my Aunt Phyllis, Uncle Dean and my cousins, Tammy and Robin, would gather for Christmas Eve at the Crothers. We all seemed to avoid the mistletoe hung between the living room and the front room with the tree and presents. With no fireplace, our stockings were hung on the ends of the sofa.

One of the most special times was when Grandma would read from the new edition of the "Christmas Ideals." That magazine had such wonderful pictures! Icicles and snow! Horses and cottages, candles and fireplaces warm aglow! Grandma Crothers would read the words carefully making sure each of us heard the words clearly.

Grandma, along with the others, would later join in sharing the Biblical story of Christmas as the night ended. It was pure magic. If I, or one of the other kids, resisted going upstairs to bed too vigorously, Grandma would rock us gently in that special rocker, lightly scratching our back, so that no young soul could resist.

The narrow stairway, the steep steps, what memories now. I wonder if the house still stands. 112 North Powers Street. I’ll never forget. The small upstairs rooms, usually rented to college students for $5 a week, were familiar. The usual cold temperatures and the not too unusual snow lent themselves to the atmosphere. I know my brother, and my cousins too, slept lightly, listening for the secret sound of sleighbells and reindeer on the roof. With no chimney, I have no recollection of how Santa would get in. I just know that, somehow, he did. He did eat the cookies and drink the milk, didn’t he?

Morning came early at the Crothers on Christmas morning! We made restless noises and cries to the adults downstairs as early at 4:30 or 5:00 am! Has Santa been here? Surely! I heard the bells! None of us could move until we heard Grandpa Crothers ring the hand-held school bell, an antique even then. A mad rush down the narrow stairs, trying to be the first, yet not fall!

The lights were all on, the bayberry candle burning! Wide-eyed children greeted sleepy eyed adults! We rushed to the front room, then stood stock-still, amazed by the delights under the tree. Not a move was made until an adult said, "OK, let’s have Christmas!" Then the mayhem began. Santa’s gifts were usually left unwrapped, but the beautiful paper from the other presents flew everywhere!

An amazing time. Loving memories. As each year passes, and Grandpa and Grandma and my Mother have become but memories, my eyes tear as I remember these happy years past. Time passes so quickly. Thank you, Dad, I love you!

Somehow, someway, be in touch with your family this holiday season. Visit or call your children, your parents. Renew your family ties. Share the bonds, the love, and the memories.

Happy Holidays, my friends. Peace. tomiswho@mindspring.com