First of all I want to say that this time of year is full of memories and sometimes heartache and a blender of emotion. I think all have a favorite holiday story in their life. This year, many will remember how they had a special gift from anonomous donors to give them Lifetime subsriptions to this Orange land of community pride. This year and last truly have pulled at my heart strings and if you care to jump into my time capsule, I would love to tell you one. about the Christmas of 1975 that always comes to mind this time of year. It is a story similiar to one that you might see on Hallmark or Lifetime but it is true. Every single word and it happened to me.
Please go to the jump below the squiggly
The year was 1975 and I was a single Mother. I worked all of the time but like today in many ways, for so many, I had to hold down two jobs to even come close to making ends meet.
I had been through a messy divorce in 74 and my ex husband never really paid child support. He was a piece of work but that is another story. I worked all day for Philco Ford in customer service and would leave there and go work parttime as an assembly worker at the Sta Puff Factory. I worked up until 9 PM and every once in awhile I got to serve tables on the weekend and sing at the Red Carpet Inn for some extra cash. My Aunt and Uncle managed the Inn. I either paid Childcare or my sister and when I took the extra jobs for Christmas, then I had to totally go with my older sister who is absolutely nothing like me, politically or otherwise. She is very much a right winger and die hard republican. She never knew what is was like to have to work or have lights turned off because her husband workd for General Motors and provided very well but he on the other hand was a union man and life long dem. I am greatful for the child care service though. I paid but I always knew my son was going to be well taken care of. My other sister was in Mississippi and we were the close ones but she had
made some lifestyle adjustments and basically was now married to man who demanded she live out of state and I had not seen or heard from her for over a year. I missed her and my little niece. I missed her a lot.
It seems that I worked so much and even though I was just a mere 25, I was tired all of the time. I spent all of my earnings on rent, food, utitlies and a clunker that constantly needed tires or something. If I had any money left I carried my son to the movies on Saturday matinee or to the bowling alley. That was our social life. We played Riverboat and building Frankenstein's monster as I laid with my eyes shut while he put the pretend screws in my neck to jolt me. I would catch quick naps this way and still feel I was contributing to some quality playtime.
The very one thing I did was work my butt off for Christmas toys because he didn't get toys all through the year but did get a fairly good Christmas from Santa Claus. I never got anything given to me. I had to work very hard to provide for his Santa. I never spent tons on his Christmas but there were lots of little toys and usually one big present and a special stuffed animal. That stuffed animal by the way at 41, he still receives to this day. He just doesn't feel like it is Christmas without at least a stuffed animal of anykind. Even if it is a dollar stuffed dog.
He got clothes. I spent money on shoes and school clothes and all the things so many, like my eldest sister took for granted. I always felt she took it for granted. If her children needed shoes, she didn't have to save and budget , she just went and got them. That was not the case for me. I had to stretch that dollar to the max and I learned right then that republicans feel entitled for the most part. They just don't get that you are managing the best you can. They nag you about going to church and maybe if you were more of thier kind of Christian you would not be having life so tough. I started rolling my eyes waaaaaaay back then.
I had been served notice that Philco Ford was shutting down. I was about to be laid off and that the office was moving to Blue Bell, Pa. I was told about this new venture when Ford sold to Sylvania and we all were going to be out of work but would have a job two weeks past Christmas. I had already given up my second job when I got that little bit of news. It was wearing me out. Corporations were laying off left and right. I never had the car fixed but this was Christmas and I was going to enjoy it,,,by Golly. I was like Scarlett O'hara , I would worry about this tomorrow not on Christmas week.
Christmas Eve was a cold night in Georgia. My Daddy had been in the hospital. He had all of his teeth pulled and gum work. He was remarried to his second wife who was a basically a social butterfly but what I always referred to as a 10 cent Millionaire. She loved dressing up and looking all fancy and never ever breaking a nail. Think of Suzanne Sugarbaker with red hair. She was very pretty and looked like Maureen O'Hara but was definitlely the boss of the family. My Dad was a humble man and had come through a divorce as well and after several years felt pretty good about landing Miss Redhead.
I was supposed to be at My Father's house at 7PM with my son for Christmas eve festivities around the tree. I had all of my son's Santa Claus in the trunk of the car with the exception of the big present, a Fonzy pin ball machine. That needed Assembly. I had worked such long hours I had left it at my Mother's who had told me she would get someone to put it together. She lived about 8 miles from me. I would pick it up later that night after my son fell asleep. I would drop by from Daddy's and get the pinball machine and knowing my gifts from Santa were secure in the trunk, I was looking forward to a Turkey dinner and anxious to see what I was going to receive from Daddy and his new wife, as she always had great taste and splurged a bit and was always telling me I needed more makeup or I should dress nicer. ( I never really had the money to buy really nice clothes). I had two or three outfits for work and that had to do me. I bought my clothes at Zayres or Woolworth, not Macy's or Rich's. Not even Sears.
This was a time before seatbelts and I still recall my son of 6 standing next to me as I was driving down the road in that old green Chrysler. I was at the corner of a main highway and near the Police Dept. when I squinched my eyes and asked my son if it seemed darker to him inside the car. He pointed his little finger and said, No, but it sure looked darker out there ! He was pointing to the outside and the highway. Then the car lights went out completely and the car died. I got it off the road just before it died. It was so cold. It was now sleeting and snow was sputtering around. The wind was up and my coat was not much. My son had a Boggin hat on and a warm coat and I wanted to cry. This was before cell phones. I didn't see one business open. I saw total darkness and heard the wind whipping around as the pellets of ice was covering the windshield. I couldn't stay there, I couldn't wait on maybe strangers stopping by as most people were already at their designations. I saw the police dept up the road a bit and figured if I could catch Daddy's brother in law who was Captain of the local PD I could get my car going. I grabbed my few wrapped presents from the backseat as I buttoned up my coat and hated the fact that I had on heels. I took my son by the hand and we started walking toward the police dept. The PD was maybe six blocks up the street. Long blocks I might add. I was fumbling with gifts and holding on to my son as the wind whipped all around us and the dampness cut through me like a knife, His little head was down as he said, "Mama there really isn't a Santa Claus is there"? I cringed. I kept walking and said, "Yes as long as you believe in one there is".
Tears were stinging my eyes. My mind raced in the cold as I had no clue what was going on with the car and all I could think about was his toys in the trunk and me getting to my Daddy's to see him as He had already had a stroke. We kept walking and I really did not want my son asking me anymore questions, I was trying to think that maybe the darn car just needed a jump.
I walked into the PD and asked if Capt Dave had left yet. Captain Dave was my father's new brother in law and I knew surely he would be at the gathering and could help me out with the car jump. He was just about to get in his personal vehicle when he told me to get in that he was heading to Daddy's. I was trying to explain about the car and he looked over at me and said, I can have it towed for you but that car isn't going far. Sounds like the alternator. I couldn't explain in front of my son the urgency of getting that car parked in front of my small apartment. I crawled in and I heard him radio someone and tell them to tow the car to the PD. He said, "You caught me just in time . I asked, "Can it be towed to the house" and he smiled and said, No Amanda, afraid not. I can bring it up to the PD which is just down the way but your apt is out of the quesion as I am not even supposed to be using the tow service...A few blocks won't matter. I was about to burst out in tears, My son sat silently in the backseat looking at the sleet coming down. Dave was sure he would be called back into work and snow and ice is a big thing in Georgia and here it was Christmas eve. What a mess !
We walked into the Christmas party with presents in hand and I saw my eldest sister and her family had already arrived and had already eaten in fact. I was no longer hungry. I walked into the dining room and motioned for my brother in law and said,
Please help me. I got to get to Tony's Christmas tonight, Santa won't come. "
He shook his head and said, I can't do it Amanda. The girls and your sister and me are about to leave and the weather is getting bad. I don't know what to tell you. I still got two bicycles to put together. I'm sorry but we can give you a ride home if you hurry and eat. I said, "We haven't opened presents. He said, But your Daddy isn't feeling good and everyone is just wanting to get home in this mess". I sighed.
Everyone was gathering around the tree, I went over and kissed my Daddy's forehead and he was so swollen and had a hankerchief to catch the blood from his bleeding surgery. I hated telling him. I had to. I noticed my son gazing out the window telling his cousins that Santa was not coming to see him, Daddy said, "Oh No. I don't know what to do. Conchita is not going to drive in this mess and she won't let nobody drive that new car she just got. I tell you what ...I will try and help you. I shook my head no, "Daddy....you can't. You just got home from the hospital. We will figure something out, He then had a few choice words for my ex husband who I had tried to call and found out he was out partying somewhere and was nowhere to be heard from. He was on a binge and I knew it. It was then the phone lines went down. We also lost power. That was it, My sister and her family started gathering their things to leave for their home. I had fixed my son and me a plate and we were hurring to gather our presents up and he looked like the saddest kid in the world. He just knew now there was no Santa Claus. Suddenly, the lights came back on but everyone but my sister had left. She was rushing us.
I took our presents with us, unopened. I felt sick to my stomach. 6 years old is just too young to quit believing in Santa. He was a smart one too because he said to me as I wrapped him from head to toe, "Mama there is no Santa Claus, you got my presents in that car don't you". I did not answer for a few seconds, I said again, there is a Santa if you believe but he has trouble sometimes getting to all the houses on Christmas Eve. He wasn't buying it. He looked up at me and said, "I guess there is no Rudolph either is there?
I walked into the den where my Daddy was sipping some soup and I handed him my car keys, I said, "Daddy don't you dare get out in this weather but if something happens, if she changes her mind, Dave said the car is at the police station.....Merry Christmas.
I crawled into the new car of my sister 's with presents in hand and tears slid down my face. I tried to rationalize how silly I was being. People were hungry. People were cold but all I could think about is my little boy who already had it pretty hard with Mama working all the time. The drive was slow going and as I hurridly walked up the steps to my apartment I was just glad to be done with the stress. I put my arm around my son as we took off our cold and wet coats and told him to go get in his pajamas and we would open our presents from Grandaddy and them tomorrow, He obediently went into the bathroom and changed clothes, Tears were being held back as I felt so helpless. I looked at my Christmas tree and saw no presents there, except 4 that we received. My son exited the bathroom and walked to the window and looked below where the car usually sat and said, "Mama Santa Claus isn't coming tonight is he"? I for the first time said, " I just don't know". Probably not, son." Weather is very bad. The lights were flickering and I said, Hey let's just head on to bed and enjoy our time tonight, and I read him a story. He ran from his room as I crawled into bed and crawled in with me. He said, I love you Mama. It don't matter".
I sang him a song that became mine and his song called You and Me against the World.
by Helen Reddy. I still tear up when I hear it.
I dozed off as I heard the pellets of ice hitting the windows. I was warm. I said a small prayer, " God please..please...somehow let my baby have his Christmas". The doors were locked and the wind blew cold but at about 4 AM I was awken to a song I was familiar with. I heard I'ts a Small World playing. I jumped up out of bed and closed the door behind me to see through my sleepy eyes my younger sister stooped under the tree setting up the very last toy. She had put I'ts a Small world on the little record player I had bought and the tree was covered with presents underneath including the pin ball machine. She put her finger to her lips and said shush. I felt like a a kid and Christmas miracle had bestowed me as I saw my beautiful younger sister all the way from Mississippi being Santa. I had not seen her in over a year. She and her husband had a van that they had driven in from Mississippi and had stopped by Daddy's at about midnight as they were going to surprise him and all of us for Christmas and he gave her the keys to car and house and told her to help. She was delighted to. Amazing how someone 400 miles was anxious to help..and not quite so anxious was the 4 mile up the road ones. I hugged her so big and now I was really crying. She explained that there was about an inch of ice that they fought and the car would have to have an altenator and they just gathered Santa presents including the ones from Mother's. I did not have a phone so they just did it. The pin ball machine was functional and assembled. As she hugged me bye and said she would see me tomorrow I hugged she and her husband. I was bowled over.
Christmas morning my son got up and walked into the living room and yelled so loud it would have waken the dead and the immediately ran to the window to see no car outside. My son believed in Santa Claus two more years after that. I will never ever forget my Christmas that year and the beauty I saw in my sister after traveling all those miles in the ice. I will never forget.
Merry Christmas and don't stop beleiving in Santa Claus. You never know.