| Christmas is a time of presents and memories. | | | | Christmas presents came as a shock to Peg. |
| Growing up, my wife Peg and I had different | | | | Instead of the one or two presents that she was |
| expectations at Christmas time. I was an only | | | | used to and expecting, I gave her dresses, shoes, |
| child until I turned fifteen, but Peg came from a | | | | jewelry and a number of other less expensive |
| family of seven children. Gifts abounded in my | | | | but well-thought out and appropriate gifts. When |
| family. It was always easier than mentioning love, | | | | we visited my parents, she received a |
| but it was our way of showing it. Gifts in Peg's | | | | double-dose of gifts. She was overwhelmed. |
| large family were limited, noise wasn't. Gifts from | | | | Looking back I was probably wrong in raising the |
| both families were well thought out, however. | | | | bar for gift expectations, but I love giving gifts |
| When I wanted cap guns for Christmas I got cap | | | | and I really enjoy buying her things. My gifts are |
| guns ... and of course one year Santa brought me | | | | not just a bunch of presents. They must be |
| a Shetland pony. When I wanted an English Racer | | | | perfect. I always try to come up with the perfect |
| bicycle, I got an English Racer. When I wanted a | | | | gift ... sometimes I have to explain why they are |
| record player, I got a record player and when | | | | the perfect gift ... sometimes I have to explain |
| that was outdated I got a fancy reel-to-reel tape | | | | several times, but I always think they are perfect. |
| recorder. | | | | Our other favorite Christmas came when the kids |
| We recently talked about childhood Christmases | | | | were fairly young. Our family was not planned. |
| and about our Christmases together. | | | | Our three children were born the first three years |
| Peg had two favorite Christmases as a child. One | | | | of our marriage. Peg was brought up Catholic. I |
| was when she received her doll, Lilly Rose. Peg still | | | | was Methodist. She had the rhythm and I had the |
| loves that doll. Today it sits disarmingly on a small | | | | method. Together ... well, the fourth year we |
| hallway dresser. Her hair is swept up on her head | | | | discovered planning and bought a duplex near UPS. |
| much like Elsa Lanchester in the Bride of | | | | This particular year we didn't have a lot of |
| Frankenstein. The mechanical eyes of Lilly Rose | | | | money. From the kids Peg received a pasta |
| are a little bit off kilter, but she watches me | | | | cooker, which she treasured. Peg and I made |
| closely when I walk by. I swear the eyes follow | | | | presents for the kids. For the three of them I |
| me. I think the doll would do me bodily harm me | | | | built a puppet theater, while Peg created hand |
| if I ever hurt Peggy. I'm not really afraid of the | | | | puppets. For Del, the second oldest, I built a |
| doll, but my pace quickens as I pass. | | | | western fort, much like Fort Nisqually complete |
| On Peg's second favorite Christmas she received | | | | with cowboys and Indians. For our youngest son |
| a game of Chinese Checkers and a world globe. | | | | Patrick, I built a castle with beer cans for towers |
| The marbles of the Chinese Checkers fit | | | | and turrets and spray painted it all gray. He also |
| perfectly in their holes. The mark of bad Chinese | | | | got bags of plastic knights and horses. For |
| Checkers is shallow indentations that allow the | | | | Andrea, our eldest and only daughter, I built a |
| slightest breeze to start a marble stampede off | | | | dollhouse made from a large turquoise drawer |
| the board. Peg could play for hours ... much like | | | | rescued from the house that was torn down |
| she plays Spider Solitaire on the computer today. | | | | next door. Peg gathered little furniture and |
| The globe was a very inexpensive blow-up kind | | | | crocheted doilies for floor coverings. Andrea still |
| and she was disappointed in that, perhaps even | | | | has the doilies. |
| embarrassed, but those feelings meant nothing to | | | | The pasta maker is gone as are the puppet |
| her as her fingers traced distances from country | | | | theater, the puppets, the fort, the castle, and the |
| to country. And I think she loved dreaming about | | | | dollhouse. When asked about their favorite |
| all the places in the world she could visit. Some | | | | Christmas memories, that Christmas stands out |
| things never change. In our home next to her | | | | as the best for each of the children ... of course |
| living room chair she has a world atlas. She still | | | | for some Christmases I was known to have |
| dreams. | | | | worn out the electronic games and radio |
| In our life together we both have the same | | | | controlled toys before they were even |
| favorite Christmases. Our first Christmas was at | | | | presented, but that's another story. |
| our studio apartment on North Yakima. It | | | | Christmas is a time for giving to family ... to |
| consisted of a tiny bathroom, a tiny kitchen and a | | | | friends ... to the community and for giving just the |
| living room with a bay window that gave us a | | | | right present ... and the right memory. |
| secluded view of a large hedge and lots of | | | | Of all the gifts we give, I think that memories are |
| greenery. | | | | sometimes the best presents. |