1950's Christmas Reflections

Christmas comes, doesn't it?

   Christmas begins sometime along about the end of October when Mother and I look at each other firmly, and resolve that this year we are definitely going to cut down. In the first few days of Christmas shopping we actually believe it. We are "just looking around". Then we make out the lists, and really get down to business, and, as every other year, January becomes a horrible month. But at least we do try. 

   Every year the list is lengthened, this year by two, Jimmy, and Danny Gallivan, a son and a new nephew. That  makes: Mother, Mary, Jim, Frank, Louise, Michael, Danny, Patrick, Brian and Danny (Western Danny), Eddy, Kay, Danny (Eastern Danny) Terry, Vincent, Marian, Gail, Lena, Toni, Ede, Omer, Fred, Rhoda, Vincent, Lenore, Michele, and ourselves, Wilf, me, Mary Jane, Suzanne and Jimmy Pat. Thirty-one gifts!!

   We try to keep each child's gift, except our own children and Mother's gift, fewer than three dollars, Try, I says it never works, but at least it is a guide.

   Christmas really begins-- the work, that is around the First of December. There isn't any use doing any concentrated cleaning before then because, in our house, it doesn't last. So the first two weeks of December are given over to cleaning and shopping. In theory the last week before Christmas is exclusively for baking. In theory, the gifts are wrapped. The ones for out of town have long ago been mailed, in theory.

   Then why is it that Mother and I are frantically sorting and wrapping presents after Wilf has gone to Midnight Mass? What happened to the theory, as we wrap as quietly as possible, listening intently for small people who might waken and wander?