A Christmas To Remember...
- Shawn
- Dec 23, 2017
- 3 min read
As Johnny and I are embracing our small space living...trailer living...finding joy in our 50's..staying healthy lifestyle... the holidays always bring a flood of memories. Wonderful memories...Bing Crosby Christmas album playing on the stereo while adding tinsel one by one (some of you may not now what tinsel is or was) to the fresh flocked tree. Dad enjoying some eggnog on the couch, mom creating a large, beautiful handmade bow that will top the tree. My parents did a wonderful job in providing fun traditions and great Christmases each year.
Do you ever go back in your mind to think about some of the most memorable Christmases? I do! Especially the early childhood years. A gift I'll never forget, my first bicycle. It was proudly parked right in front of the tree. Santa brought it right down the chimney into our living room completely assembled. How awesome is that?!!!!
It was a beautiful Burgundy color, a white banana seat with big mod
flowers painted on it. PLUS a white basket with little flowers on the rim. A beauty, I think it glowed when I came around the hallway and rubbed my eyes a couple of times in disbelief...but there it was.
I just learned to ride a bike up at my friend's house, the Elias'. They had a large backyard and a small bike that all the neighbor kids were taking turns learning to ride. If I am not mistaken...my friend Susanne and I successfully rode all by ourselves that day! What a feeling! So of course, I wanted a new bike of my own. I had been good all year (with some minor infractions that involved my brother Kimberly,wink wink, smiley face), I was very hopeful and I wrote an exceptional letter that year too!
My brother Kim woke me that Christmas morning and once we got our parents up we headed into the living room. There it was, just like I
wrote earlier, parked in front of the tree waiting for me...it's new owner. I was beyond thrilled. I couldn't wait to take it out for a spin. I got dressed so fast after that and out the door I went. Yes, it was cold out...I recall a bit of snow on the ground but nothing significant. It wouldn't matter anyway. I just wanted to ride..and ride I did...all day. I put my favorite stuffed animal in my basket. I rode all around our driveway and backyard. I went to each of my friend's house on the street to show them my new wheels.
I was so excited that day and hated when the sun started to set and I had to go in. I polished it up in the garage and parked it next to my Dad's motorcycle, a Honda Dream 305...yes, a perfect place to park my new bicycle.
A Christmas I will never forget. Til this day, I still think of that Christmas so many many moons ago. A happy time. I still get that happy feeling today when I get on a bicycle. It seems that little girl is still there waiting to get out, with her basket of necessities. Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of me on that bicycle, but trust me, it was cool!If you are interested in going down memory lane, check out this link for the 1972 Schwinn Catalog. I am sure you might run across a bike you had as a child too. Once there, you can check out other years and models within the Schwinn line.
So what was your most memorable Christmas gift as a child?
Merry Christmas,
Shawn
