Family Memories
The Best Christmas Ever
What still ranks as possibly my Best Christmas Ever was the year I was eight years old -1961. That holiday season had all of the elements needed.
It started, of course, with a San-Val Christmas party. It was December 23rd and the party was being held a day early because we had to drive up to Fresno, CA for mom's family Christmas. The party went well, and we hurried home to finish packing to leave. I need to mention here that we were in the middle of a hear wave. A winter time weather condition called a Santa Anna will do that here. It had been in the upper 80's and I had been wearing shorts. My parents insisted that I change into long pants and have my jacket close by - something I was very grateful for later.
At 8 years old, I was on the verge of not believing in Santa Claus. My parents, apparently, still believed, because we set up our empty Christmas stockings and left a few presents under the tree to give out after we got back. My parents insisted that Santa would find me up in Fresno, and that he would take care of our stockings here.
I made sure that I was last out of the house. No last minute stuff! Dad was about ready to turn the car on when mom remembered something she had forgotten in the house. Not unusual. Dad waited impatiently for a few minutes, then told me to stay put, that he was going to hurry her up (again, not unusual). Very soon, both were back in the car, and with a last grumble at mom, we were off.
It had been such a warm day that my parents promised me some ice cream once we got to the bottom of the Grapevine, the pass into the Central Valley. What I didn't know was that there was a major weather change once we were into the valley. All the way from the bottom of the Grapevine to Fresno we drove (slowly) through Tule Fog. Now, this is not normal fog. It only goes up 6-10 feet high. But it is so thick it makes coastal fog look wimpy. Schools would close on bad tule fog days because drivers couldn't see well enough to get safely to school!
We drove ever so slowly through that stuff. Probably took us 3 hours longer to get up there. It was full dark when we arrived. And cold! The minute we hit that fog we were all grabbing for sweaters and jackets. It was past 8 p.m. when we finally arrived at Uncle Ralph's house and it was dark. They had all gone out to eat, not leaving us the name of the restaurant. So instead my parents checked into the motel they were staying at.
Eventually everyone got back and the party began in earnest. Before too long, all of us cousins (Pam, Chris, Janis, and I) were in our sleeping bags in front of the fireplace. Pam's dog Shadow joined us and we gradually dropped off to sleep.
The next day was Christmas Eve and it was cold and foggy. Dad and I joined Uncle Ralph on a trip to his medical office. I remember it being sort of out in the middle of nowhere, but this was Ralph's first off office as a medical doctor. He was done with format schooling and was now almost done with his residency. Once he was done with that, he told my dad, he wanted to move back to San Diego, where he had done his internship. Next to Ralph's office was a cotton field that had been harvested. I took some of the cotton balls that had been missed to show at school when I got back.
The rest of the day and evening were very normal for us. Aunt Alice, Uncle Murray, and their 6 kids were not there, nor were they expected. The excuse given me was that Uncle Murray felt it was too much of an expense for a family with 6 kids to travel that far. I suspect now that he didn't want to come because the prior year was when his attempts at causing drama were so put down.
No Grandma or Grandpa. They were getting up in years and Grandpa was having serious issues with what now be known as senile dementia, relating to his diabetes. Two of his sons, later in life would go down the same path. Grandpa's memory had deteriorated badly enough that Grandma wasn't able to care for him properly and he was about to go to a nursing home. Uncle Ralph was going to pick the two of them up the next day for the family celebration.
Another night with my beloved cousins. I fell asleep trusting my parents that Santa would find me in Fresno too. And he did! That was the year I received my Chatty Cathy doll and my holster with a cap gun. We have photos of me wearing that, looking fierce. Who knows what bad guys I was after?
After a long, but fun day, we packed up and I returned to the motel with my parents. They wanted to make an early start for home the next day. I remember being disappointed that I had to say goodbye to my cousins.
It wasn't until we were on the way home that I remembered about Santa and the stocking and such at home. Then I was excited and started bugging my folks to get home quicker. The fog had lifted, so the ride was quicker, but still too long for me. Once we got home I think I was the first one out of the car. I know I almost knocked my mom over in my rush to be the first one in the house.
But what a sight awaited me! The stockings were still on the mantel, but now they were full of interesting packages. And speaking of packages, there were quite a few that I knew hadn't been there when we left. Santa was real!!! And he did find me in Fresno and home! It wasn't until much later that I noticed that our cheap pine tree was bent almost double from the heat and lack of water.
To make that holiday perfect, a short time later my adopted brother, Doug, came rushing up the walk. He had managed to get leave from the Marine Corps, but not in time to join us for the trip to Fresno. Doug was home! And Santa was real! And I had gotten to spend time with my cousins! It really was a perfect Christmas.
Note: That was the last family Christmas with mom's family. Grandpa died of pneumonia in the nursing home that spring. Ralph finished his residency and did move back to San Diego. My Aunt Bette, unfortunately, did not join him. Their volatile relationship had finally reached its end. Grandma moved to San Diego as well, becoming roommates with another elderly woman for several years.
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