"Step Into Christmas"
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| I don't know why the photo did this!!!! |
Christmas 1976.
So many memories when I look at this photo. Starting on the left my Mum, Anne would have been 42 years old, my sister, Joanne on the couch in the yellow housecoat would have been 18, my brother Bob, 15 years old and me in the front on the floor would have been 12.
My sister had moved out of the house that Summer and I missed her dearly. Even though we were 6 years apart we were very close. I was so happy she was back home, for a few days anyway.
As you can see our cats were a big part of our lives. Nothing ever happened in that house that they were not part of. Simon is in the box beside my sister while my brother is holding Sonya. The cats would have been 7 years old.
The wooden bowl on the coffee table always held clementines at Christmas. My brother would eat them copiously and we would find the peels stuffed between the couch cushions days later. The other bowls contained walnuts, chocolates and various other candies. My favourites were the hard raspberry candies we would buy at delicatessen that specialized in ethnic food. I am sure somewhere on the table is some Halvah too.
Even though the couch was probably only 5 years old that was the second coverings for the cushions. The cats had scratched the first covering so badly. It would be recovered one more time before the cats passed away.
The books in the shelf at my back were "Funk and Wagnall" encyclopaedia's. I believe they were purchased once a week at our local A&P. We lived a bit of a drive away from our library so through grade school they were well used. As we grew older they were relegated to the Rec Room downstairs and then eventually sold in a yard sale. I do wish I had kept a couple.
The cupboard at my knee held all our photo albums. We travelled a good bit and my Dad constantly took photos. He or my Mum would place them in albums and we enjoyed pouring over them.
Some of the items in the room Chuck and I now have. A lamp, the tapestry above my sister's head, a few of the bowls on the table. I still have the Sylvester Cat stuffed animal on the couch too.
This Christmas my Mum is spending it at my sister's with my brother and his wife. We don't see much of each other anymore and that does sadden me. My sister in law and I just don't care for each other. If you remember my siblings are married to siblings. My sister won't invite us to their Christmas celebrations as long as my brother and his wife are there and my sisters husband always invites his sister (my Brother's wife) to their house for Christmas. Very complicated situation!
Whatever you do for your holiday celebrations I wish you happiness.
Take care.
Robin
You have wonderful, warm and now a bit bittersweet, memories, Robin.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even see Simon until you said he was in the box, then I looked again. Your post is making me think about our own Christmases while growing up. Though with just me, they were pretty low key. I do remember we always had walnuts, and I remember the nutcracker and little pik-thing to get them out. I wonder if my mom still has that set; probably!
It IS sad that family situations can be so complicated. I'm sorry you're not as close to your family now as you were, because of the s-i-l situation. Life and relationships can be so messy.
Lots of hugs and Light; Merry Christmas to you, and Happy Hanukkah to Chuck.
Hi Kim, our Christmas's were usually rather nutty. Lots of family visiting, lots of commotion with two cats thrown in who got into everything.
DeleteAs I have gotten older I find I like the quiet time at Christmas now. But it does make it difficult to spend time with my Mum.
Have a good holiday Kim, we will see you sometime in there!
Oh Robin, I love seeing pictures like this one. It reminds me of Christmas when my girls were young and also Christmas when I was young. and do you look like your mom? I think so. She was very pretty.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame when families have problems like that and I fully understand. I had a sister-in-law that hated me and pretended to like my mother, but did not treat her very nice. My brother is dead now and even at his funeral she acted like we (my brother's family) should not have been there. I loved my brother dearly.
Anyway, Merry Christmas! Did not mean to go on about this.
You have a beautiful family.
Hi Henny, I saw on another blog someone had posted an old photo of their Christmas and I thought it was a good idea.
DeleteMy aunts say I am a combination of my Mum and Dad. When I was younger I think I looked more like my Dad's side of the family but now as I get older I see my Mum more and more when I look in the mirror.
So sorry about your SIL. So hard when you loved your brother dearly.
Have a wonderful Christmas Henny!
Hi Cat Lover, I loved this post about the 70's family Christmas. I've come across here as I saw a comment on my post today (22 December). (www.memorablemeanders.blogspot.com) For the past two days followers haven't been able read my posts or comment. I'm also unable to access it. I think I've been hacked. Please, please could you tell me how you were able to visit my blog post and comment. My e-mail address is hedges@telkomsa.net Regards Jo
ReplyDeleteHi Jo, I did email you. I hope you received it!
DeleteWe all sure wish you a very Merry Christmas.That was a lovely post. It is sad when families kind of fall apart.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marg, I appreciate your kind words. Wishing you and all your crew a wonderful Christmas!
DeleteOld photos bring back so many memories. My memories of Christmas growing up are rather sad because my father would invariably lose his temper over something. And now, unfortunately, here in my own family there are people who don't get along with others and I think I'm probably the one who worries most that all will go smoothly. Oh well, all too soon it will be over. ( We do have a lot of fun too, I don't want to give the impression that we don't. I guess wherever you have around 20 people there are bound to be problems getting along).
ReplyDeleteIt's so great that you still have some of those items in the picture. It's kind of funny that your brother stuffed his orange peels under couch cushions. Take care and however you and your husband choose to celebrate, may it be peaceful and happy.
I am seeing that many people have problems with other family members. But as you say all too soon it is over.
DeleteThank you for your good wishes. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!
Lots of happy memories there. I think most families have situations that are not ideal, but we can't dwell on it and have to make our happiness with those who are around.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter has disowned us and hasn't spoken to us in 4 years. Yes, sad, but I will still enjoy this Christmas. : )
A very happy and Merry Christmas to you.
Hi Karen, how true! "Make our happiness with those who are around" That's wonderful! Thanks for sharing that.
DeleteI am so sorry your daughter continues not to speak to you. So sad.
Wishing you and Ken a lovely Christmas!
I'm so sorry about that, Robin. That's hurtful.
ReplyDeleteI love the cats in the photos! So cute!
You have some lovely Christmas memories.
Hi Pom Pom, thanks for the kind thought.
DeleteWe loved those cats so much. One lived to 17 the other to 19 so they were a big part of our life.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
So many memories from one photograph. My family bought encyclopaedias one volume at a time, too, also from a grocery store. I think my parents tried it twice and both times, the stores stopped carrying the books before we got all of them. I remember the condensed novels (or at least their illustrations) at the back of the volumes, but nothing of the articles.
ReplyDeleteI wish your family were closer but mine isn't too different. People and situations change as time goes by, and we have to make do sometimes. I hope this Christmas finds you and your family happy and well. Thank you for your compliment regarding my Christmas card.
We loved the encyclopaedias! We were all big readers so we would just pick one at random and read it. They got much use over the years!
DeleteI am sorry your family isn't closer. I hope you have others around you to spend time with. I know your cats give you great comfort.
Take care and enjoy the holiday.
Lots of wonderful memories for you! I remember buying the Funk and Wagnall encyclopedias too...I used them a lot in my classroom I remember, as the school library where I was teaching was woeful 😒. I can relate to your family/in law situation. My daughters feuded for 5 years and have only just reconciled. It was difficult ' being caught in the middle' .
ReplyDeleteMany people seem to have purchased the same encyclopedias! That is hilarious! We sure loved them.
DeleteI am glad your daughters have reconciled. It would be hard as a Mom to have to be in the middle.
Take care.
Oh my, I have a 1976 Christmas photo so similar to that (except I am an only child!) I'm the same age as you and my Mum was a year older than yours.
ReplyDeleteYour family situation really is complicated. I'm sorry for your current family situation but sometimes you just can't be friends with certain relatives!!! ;) Still, it must be difficult for you at times, especially the holidays.
Thanks Natalie, it is rather difficult at holidays as Chuck and I are pretty well always left out. As Karen said in her comment "make our happiness with those who are around" so that is what Chuck and I do. We have been together for 35 years now so there is no one else in the world I would rather spend time with.
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