Some memories, as I sit here thinking about Christmas in the long ago . . .
When I was 7, WWII was raging and most things were in short supply, including rubber items. This was being used in what was called "the war effort." My mother told me later that she had walked and walked through every store in town to find a doll for me. She finally found a Betsy Wetsy which came with bottle, diaper, and Q-tips! She had little rubber ears inserted into her hard skull and they could be cleaned nicely with the little Q-tips. I named this doll Elizabeth Ann and loved her and cared for her and played with her till it was time. In those days, one doll sufficed. My sister had a fancier doll named Mary Ann. One year, my mother made these two dolls winter coats and hats. Mary Ann's was bright royal blue and was trimmed with something that looked like ermine fur, including a matching hat. Elizabeth Ann's coat was a serviceable maroon corduroy with no matching hat. (Many years later, I received another doll - this time a live one - named Elizabeth Ann.)
This might have been the year that brothers Mark and Pat received new bikes, but I'm not sure. It could have been the year before. I know they were still pretty young to be riding bikes to Midnight Mass in deep snow. My dad laughed when they talked about trying to keep the bikes in tire tracks and sliding and slipping and falling down, but he didn't offer to drive them back home.
One other thing I remember about those wonderful Christmas dinners was that I was served Mogen David wine along with everyone else. From an early age. And one time, my mother was scrubbing the vestibule floor after Christmas and noticed an almost-empty Mogen David wine jug in the closet. She saw that it was just a swallow and decided to drink it and get rid of the jug. Simple as that. My brother Pat came upon her as she knelt there, jug to her lips, and shouted Mom, what's going on?
I hope all of you can remember really great things about your past Christmases.

Merry Christmas
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