First time I hung laundry

The air was brisk and golden treasures draped the ground it was a normal October day. I awoke unaware of what the day had in stored for me. I lived with a large family in a green cape cod and my neighborhood was filled with kids. We had a clothes line in our backyard that I have never seen my mother use, in fact the lines were gone but the hooks still remained. It was a Tuesday evening, the night my mother and grandmother would bowl in league, which left my father in control. My father loved to watch the Milwaukee Bucks, so he would kick us outside to play, that left him in peace. Which brings us back to the brisk air and the golden treasures the draped the ground. Fall and leaves, leaves everywhere. The full neighborhood gang got together and made the worlds larges pile of leaves from a two block radius. The pile got higher and higher with every bag or can full of leaves. We stationed the pile right in front of the empty clothes line pole. The pile was finally finished with the joy of us all. I climbed the step ladder we took from the garage and climbed to the top of the pole and jumped. Arms stretch out in front of me and eyes closed waiting for the soft crunchy landing. But no there I hung, suspended by the waist line of my pants. Laughter filled the air! What a fine mess I was in! My brother Gary ran to get help from my Father. My Dad came out with a huge grin on his face and said, “Who hung this laundry out to dry?” He carefully lifted me back up onto the pole and called it an end to our leave pile jumping for the night.

May the peace of Christmas

May the peace of Christmas

Renew your soul and your days be filled with

True friends, close family and

. Precious memories

Christmas 2011

Written by : Joyce Reid (close friend of my mothers)

You know all the news so I’d like to share with you how my Christmases have changed in my lifetime.

When I was about six years old, it was a most exciting time. The live tree was so important and it had to be a tall one. It was amazing how Santa Clause would come in the night with a tree, trim it and leave all those things he made. The doll had new clothes, there were new wooden toys to play with, there were candy canes on the tree and how did he know just what we wanted?

As I started to catch on to the help he was getting, I was able to help keep the secret for someone younger and make things in school that I thought my folks would be thrilled with! The Christmas Eve service at church was always so exciting to present our songs and we got a bag of candy or a popcorn ball. I had no idea I couldn’t carry a tune.


When I started to work, I could buy presents and when brother, Sheldon was working we joined “forces”. I bought presents and he paid for half and he would tell people “I can’t wait for Christmas to see what I bought everyone!” Soon he joined the Navy and that ended.

In 1956, I bought my house and my dining room would be piled with presents to deliver the week or two before Christmas when I made a trip to deliver them to my siblings, nieces and nephews. That was really a fun time for me.


In Rockford , I kept making 14 kinds of cookies to make up plates for friends like I did for the 25 men in the Shop at work. That too, was most enjoyable. The year my husband Bill and I went to the Orient, we visited nephew, Jim in CA. He had a big world map in his library. Bill wished he had one. I got a map from the Defense Dept. and when Christmas came I papered it on one wall of the office the week before Christmas. I put a sign on the door: DO NOT ENTER. When we finished opening our presents, I said, “there is something in the office that I can’t bring in by the tree.” Bill was sure he knew what it was and he saw some tracks in the snow across the lawn that looked like someone carried something heavy. He never told me what he thought it was, but he was thrilled with the map and we enjoyed it. For many years, I subconsciously, felt there really was a Santa.


My nieces and nephews all grew up, and I did not know what they wanted, my friends

became diabetic or got high blood pressure so couldn’t eat the cookies any more, I ran out of energy for shopping and baking.


When I got older and am not involved in the excitement of playing Santa Claus, my energy seems to have left me and I am so thankful to have all those wonderful memories. I am also so thankful to “all the Santa’s” who have enriched my life!


A letter or message of any kind is the most precious thing I can get! I enjoy hearing what my friends and family are doing and how they are.


Have a wonderful holiday and make a lot of precious memories next year!



Love, Joyce