Christmas Memories 2009

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Dean and I headed for New York City this year for Christmas. Dean had missed two big trips this year, because of his back, so I thought this would be a great Christmas present for both of us. Though we missed all of our wonderful family and friends, I know they forgave us, and we talked to all of them through Facebook, phone on Christmas, and now this blog.

We booked our room at the Doubletree at Times Square. The room had a terrific view, and the hotel is convenient to everything. Our first day was spent walking, riding in a carriage at Central Park, "shopping" at FAO Schwartz and Saks 5th Ave, watching the skaters at Rockefeller Center and Central Park, and topping the day off with the show, Jersey Boys. Of course, the music was great, and the actor for Frankie Valli had a great voice...loved the show.."Walk Like a Man......"

Day two brought a bus tour, one of those double decker, "Hop on and off", that saved us a few years back, when we went with Adam and Lori and the kids, during the transportation strike. We hopped off at the South Street Seaport, and had a wonderful lunch...then continued on the Brooklyn Loop and back to Downtown. We ended the day at the show, Wicked. A wonderful new story of Oz...the sets were amazing and the singing was fantastic..."Defying gravity.."

Day 3 was Christmas Eve, and after a morning of walking around Times Square and Toys R Us, we went to see the remake of White Christmas. WOW!!! It was just what you would expect from my favorite Christmas production and then some. The singers and dancers and costumes were just fantastic..David Ogden Steiers (Major Winchester from M.A.S.H.) played the General, and he was also wonderful.."We'll follow the old man..."   We walked to the Presbyterian Church on 5th Ave and enjoyed their Christmas Eve service of lessons and hymns. As you would expect in NYC, talented singers and musicians gravitate to the choirs of the local churches...we were not disappointed...great sopranos, tenors, and the organist was incredible. As we walked back to Times Square, we stopped off at the Stage Deli...the very BEST pastrami sandwich ever!!

Then, Christmas day...we grabbed a taxi to Madison Square Garden for a Knicks game. They played and lost to the Miami Heat. The crowd was typical New York and so much fun! Dean talked to all the family at Mom's house during halftime..and I got a voice mail and text from Adam and the kiddos...not our typical Christmas morning, but still loads of fun! Dean had left my "present" to open in Monticello...I told him not to fear, "Tiffany's" is just a walk away!! :)

Christmas dinner was a special meal at the Doubletree, and we ended the day at the Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular. The Rockettes were indeed the stars, and our friend, Kelly King, is still a member of this prestigious group.

Our final day in NYC was filled with rain..so we taxied to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We, and about a million others!! We got the audio tour "stuff" and had a great time. We viewed the old masters, the American exhibit, the beautiful Christmas tree, the armor.....and so on and so on. We spent 5 hours and probably saw a 5th of the exhibits...what a wonderful place!

Before our final show, we dined at Ellen's Stardust Diner, and were completely entertained by the waiters and waitresses, who are aspiring Broadway performers. It is so much fun to watch them, sing, dance and deliver food..all at the same time. Our waiter had just returned from a 3 month tour...back to Ellen's to be "rediscovered". Our final show was Mama Mia...a terrific show with, again, some great songs, thanks to ABBA!! " I have a dream....."

The next day...back to La Guardia and our trip home...what a fantastic Christmas trip. Something about NYC.... Dean and I both agree, it was and will be a favorite trip of all times!!

Christmas Memories (Really Old Ones)

Today, the ladies and gentlemen of First Methodist Church were making and wrapping up fruit baskets for the more "experienced" members of our church, for Christmas. As you might expect, fun was had by all, and over 40 baskets were made and delivered this morning. What I did not expect was some of the memories of Christmas that came flooding back today....

Here are Andy and Mim, with Scooter the cat in front of our traditional Christmas tree...Yes, an evergreen, still in can, (to return to the nursery for selling), with ornaments all near the front and middle, because of the numerous times Scooter climbed and knocked it over before Christmas. The Halls never chopped down a tree for Christmas, we just carefully used and returned them to the nursery stock...see??? we were "green" even way back then!!

I know my sisters and I were so embarrassed, as we took our "nursery" plants to our school  teachers....we never got to buy our teachers presents, we just had to take them poinsettias, or those little miniature trees that we decorated, or some other such plant. Of course, we did find out as adults, teachers really like that stuff...even better than the candles and perfumes!!

Speaking of those little trees...that was one of my favorite "chores" during Christmas...See? on the  bench next to Mama? Those are some of our beautiful trees!! I just know they made special gifts for some teacher or mailman, or milkman, or friend!

Some other special times were given to us by Dick Livingston, Daddy's best friend from childhood. He owned Russell's department store in Eustis, and gave us Hall girls a real paying job during the Christmas season. We made about 20 cents an hour wrapping presents purchased in the store. During the beginning of the week, it was a real cinch...somebody buys a blouse, you go back in the back, find the blouse box, pack with tissue, choose a wrapping paper, pick white or red or green ribbon, curl the ends of the ribbon and return to customer. No problems....BUT by Christmas Eve....big problems arose. Boxes became scarce, tape was running thin, only white ribbon may have been left, to go with only one kind of paper!!

I think Margaret and I made have pulled off the best wrapping job in history. Can you guess what someone bought? An overcoat...kind of like a thick trench coat today...we went back to find the box...HA! Not only did that box not exist, the largest box we could find was a square shaped "underwear" box. Somehow, we folded and folded and folded, 'til we got that big coat in that little box...one of us held down the box as the other wrapped the paper and taped and taped and taped. We were so proud, when we handed the customer that beautifully wrapped box, and assured her that yes, indeed..it was her overcoat!!

Christmas hold many delightful memories from those simpler days....Nanny Tom's sugar cookies, our beautiful nursery Christmas trees, Mama's and Daddy's sacrifices for that new bike, singing Christmas carols with the church youth, decorating miniature trees at the nursery, and wrapping presents at Russell's department store...just to name a few.

Bethlehem In Monticello

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Here is a small part of Bethlehem in Monticello, a labor of love for our community, presented by members of several congregations in our little town. Though we were rained out on our first night, over 500 people came on Saturday to walk the streets of Bethlehem, follow Mary and Joseph through the town, interact with the townspeople, here the "rest of the story", watch the shepherds in the fields, hear angel tidings, and follow the wisemen to the stable.

This has become a very important tradition for our community....a wonderful way to prepare for the Season!

After visiting Bethlehem, people are treated to cookies, hot chocolate, apple cider, and wonderful entertainment and fellowship. Here are just a few faces in the crowd...

Merry Christmas to all!!