If I Had a Wig I Sure Wouldn't Put It in a Potpourri Box

One week away from Christmas. My kids are so excited. I think this is the first year that they really get what is going on. Last year they seem to understand completely, but this year we have worked really hard to explain the real meaning and we have involved them in all of the decorating and baking. Their attention spans were shorter last year and they were easily bored. I hope, with the exception of a few meltdowns and tantrums, they will finally be able to file away some permanent memories this Christmas. 

Pictures have helped, but I believe that 5 is as far back as I can remember. Pictures always help. I don’t have the photo albums but I can tell you what each tree looked like, how wild my hair looked and where everyone sat on Christmas morning. We had a small house which I didn’t think was that small. Just over 900 square feet, one bathroom, one wall heater and two window-type air conditioners were all we had. It was hot in the summer and cold in the winter but it was home and my mom made it a place that was comfortable for our family. 

We had three bedrooms, a formal living room, entry, eat-in kitchen and a den that my dad built. My dad built so much. He had and I still believe, has a gift for seeing furniture and being able to build it. Even today I have several pieces that he made custom for me. Treasures.

It was small but somehow each Christmas my mom would transform it into a magical wonderland of holly, mistletoe, “snow” covered knick-knacks and don’t get me started on the smells. Christmas at the McKinney’s was, in my memory, a sight to behold. It always seemed to last longer than it does now. But then the older I become, the more time seems to fly.

We had one room designated as the tree room. It had to be the size of my current bathroom but back then it was grand. The tree, usually white flocked, was the focal point. It was centered in front of a window and always had red decorations and a star that shined so bright. The lights were multi-colored and flashed shadows on the ceiling. One of my favorite things was to lay under the tree and look up and the different shapes. We had a long white couch, two gold chairs, a piano and a decorative marble table. Today that table sits outside my mom’s room. I love that table. Red, green, white and gold were scattered throughout the house. Each trinket, each seemingly meaningless item holds a special place in my mind. My mom made Christmas special for all of us and I will cherish them all.

Time moved on and we did too. We changed houses, grew up, got married and had kids of our own. It was time for me to start memories in my own home. One thing that was never anticipated……..the absence of the most important person. No, she isn’t here and making and enjoying memories has taken on a new meaning. Some days I want to just forget it because without her it just isn’t the same. My kids don’t understand that so, for them and for my extremely patient husband, I try to lift myself up. So far I’m doing a pretty good job. Still, she isn’t here. 

It will never be the same but it can be better because now I am seeing this wonderful holiday through the eyes of a little boy and a little girl. They are excited and it is infectious. 

My family has always been big gift-givers. My mom was the biggest. Santa had to come and when he did he didn’t disappoint. We do the same for our babies but our focus has been more on the birth of Jesus and how the gifts we receive are related. My kids are 5. They pretty much just want stuff. Regardless, we have laid the foundation and next year we will build on it.

So, over the years I have been given some great gifts, some touching gifts and some that have made me scratch my head. Dolls, Barbies, a tiny piano, clothes and electronics are what I remember. I did get a really cool doll house once. It was metal and didn’t come with people. I used my Barbies. Yes they were giants, but I didn’t care. I had relatives with little money that made me beautiful things that were unappreciated at the time. Now they are treasures that I hold dear.

It wasn’t until I was married that the gifts started to take a strange turn. Fortunately for me, my mother-in-law will never see this so here goes. My husband is an only child to parents who became parents at an age when most parents were sending their kids off to college. My mother-in-law only knew how to buy for a boy. She tried her best and I am grateful that she did. I believe it was the first Christmas when she set the tone. We each received one present individually and one as a couple. The only thing I remember is my gift. It was a round box with pretty flowers. I couldn’t imagine what it was. The excitement inside me was building and then as I opened it, the anticipation was over. All I could think of was, “she bought me potpourri.” It smelled lovely, but it was a big round box of potpourri. It was a nice gift and one that I was able to use for years. The gift wasn’t the issue, it was what his mom said next. “Carole, I hope you like it. Of course you can use the box to store your wigs in.” You don’t know this, but I have a ton of hair, my hair. To this day, we don’t know where that comment came from. I used the potpourri and saved the box. Never, not once did I put a wig in it.

One year we received a tumbler that transports your deposit slips and money to the outside bank teller. It had stuff in it but we were told that his dad had never used outside banking and didn’t understand that it wasn’t his to keep. We still have it too. One gift that was odd at the time was the Ove-Glove. Silly at the time but has become very useful. Over the years we have learned that when she asks us what we want, we should tell her specifically. It works out but occasionally she throws in something quirky. 

I hope that this Christmas is special for all of you. I hope you are making new memories and enjoying the real meaning of this holiday. Merry Christmas to each and every one of you.