Christmas at San-Val
What is a San-Val? That is a good question. Once, long ago, there was a small business known as San-Val Printers. They were the local, small town printer in the San Gabriel Valley (hence the name). They printed everything from 3 part forms for doctors to small booklets, to cards given out at funerals, union newsletters, high school dance tickets, etc. This was back in the days before computers when the printing industry was limited to two types of printing presses - ones that used metal type, and offset presses that used a process tied to photography. Copying machines were just starting to become popular about the time my dad sold the business.
My dad had largely grown up in the area where he and my mom started their business. He had, in fact, grown up with many of the civic leaders. It was dad's knowledge of the area and its people as well as his personality that made San-Val Printers what it was. The shop always had an area for coffee breaks, where dad would meet with people during the day. He'd share a cup of coffee with them while they talked about a printing job, then they'd get down to their real reason for stopping by - some crisis in their lives. Dad dispensed wisdom as well as printing. We used to joke about it being a Never Ending Coffee Pot.
Both of my parents put in long hours at the shop. They were there, officially, Monday thru Friday, 8-5. Often we ran later and Saturdays were often work days as well. When I was little I had a playpen in the back. Once I reached school age and I was safe around the presses (I learned early to NEVER get too close), I had a very cool roll up desk. I attended the school close to the shop and walked there from the shop. My first friends were the Chinese kids whose parents ran the laundry next door.
But Christmas at San-Val was special. For me, it always started the day my dad went down to Sees Candy to pick up our Christmas order. Our good customers would get a one pound box of the amazing chocolates. Sometimes my dad would take me with him when he made these happy deliveries. I would have to make sure I looked nice, with mom fixing my hair before we left. It probably didn't hurt to have a cute kid help drop off the Christmas goodies. Sometimes I would be given a cookie or candy as well. Sometimes I wondered if our chocolates ever made it past the office staff at some of the places to the bosses.
Actually, now that I think about it, Christmas really started for us the day the Christmas card books came in. The card companies would send us these huge (to me anyway) books filled with samples of the beautiful cards for people to purchase. They could be imprinted with the family name, etc. Remember, this is all before computers. When enough of the books came in, mom and I would set aside the wedding books that normally sat in that part of the customer area, and put in the Christmas card books. Our window banner "Christmas Cards sold here!" would go up as well. We'd even put in a few simple decorations.
We didn't decorate a lot in the back part of the shop. A few things, some ribbon. It depended on who had the time and energy. Mostly we were too busy working. I helped too. When the Christmas card orders came in I was allowed to help count the cards and envelopes and make sure the imprinting was done properly.
The shop Christmas party was the big thing. Everybody looked forward to that, though sometimes I think I did more than anybody. It was usually held on Christmas Eve. I know mom did some prep work ahead of time for the party. She baked, of course. But I don't remember us bringing a lot of stuff to the shop that day. It always seemed like there were printing jobs that had to get done before we could close for the day. I was out of school by then, so I was there, waiting not at all patiently.
Eventually around 11 or so, if dad wasn't running one of the presses he'd ask me to join him in running some errands for the party. Sometimes it meant a last minute delivery of candy. Or a quick trip to the market for paper goods. But that was preliminary. It wasn't until dad asked me to go with him to the liquor store just down that street that I knew it was almost time for the party. At the liquor store dad would pick up some liquor, some mixers, some chips, and some nuts. He'd let me pick up a few sodas, a rare treat. Then we'd haul our treasures back to the shop.
Mom and I would then get the coffee table area ready. She would already have put a Christmas centerpiece there and maybe even a holiday tablecloth from home. I would bring in the chairs from the customer area to make more seating. A fresh pot of coffee would be brewed. Dad handled the liquor area. Mom would break open the box of Sees candy that they had saved for the party. I was allowed one. It was barely enough to handle my excitement.
Finally, finally the last job would be done and the presses were turned off. Usually around 1 p.m. I would get to turn the sign on the front door to "Closed" and the party was on! Although the front door was locked, most folks knew to come around back.
Officially it was a party my parents gave for the employees (usually 2), but all sorts of people would show up. Everyone would get a drink and be encouraged to sit and eat. Former employees would show up, friends, customers, etc. Business would not be discussed. Some of the visitors would bring food or sweets with them. But all would leave in good cheer!
Now was when I got to eat my fill of nuts and cookies, and chips and whatever food was there. I could drink my soda and got to open presents from the employees. I think I usually gave them copies of my school picture. There were funny stories from various people. Some of them were probably too adult for me.
At some point I would take a 2 pound box of Sees Candy over to my friends at the laundry. The two families always gave each other the same things. We gave them the big box of candy. They gave us a box of good Chinese green tea (for mom mostly) and for me, a large box of my favorite Chinese snack. The Hawaiians call it crackseed. It's a dried plum soaked in licorice, salt, and sugar. I still love it to this day. By December of each year I had always run out of the prior years dried plums, so getting a new box was a real treat!
Eventually, back at the party, my dad would give out the bonus check and say a few words. Heart felt and yet humorous. More food and drink would follow. Finally, just before 3 o'clock our pressman at the time would look at his watch and lumber to his feet. He knew that he had to get to the bank before 3 to deposit the bonus check. This was before ATMs and you had to go into the back and talk to a real bank teller to deal with your money. And they closed at 3 p.m. that day. He would always make a joke about how his wife would kill him if he didn't get the check in. One pressman had a wife who would show up around 2 p.m. to make sure both he and the check made it to their proper destinations.
Not too long after that the party would start to end. After all, it was Christmas Eve and people had places to go. Santa stuff to do. We would clean up the shop and talk home the leftovers. I always made sure that what was left of the Sees made it home!
There was no let down after the party. I had my new supply of dried plums. And it was Christmas Eve!!! The Great Event had begun!
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