[yorkietalkjilly]

Daddy used to usher in Christmas by bringing home from the Farmers' Market downtown a box of fruits, nuts and huge, monster peppermint candy sticks(2" in diameter and 12" long). He'd get odd things like kumquats and persimmons besides the huge navel oranges, huge red apples and candied pineapple, apricots and some other dried fruits the farmers' wives made. Mother decorated the house so beautifully and Daddy hung the outside lights. We ALWAYS went to have pictures taken with Santa Claus and gave him our long lists. Afterward, that night, Daddy would drive us around to see Christmas lights all over. We always had a real Christmas tree and piles of gifts and my parents really outdid themselves with Santa's gifts. My brother and I would leave out cookies and milk and in the morning, crumbs in the plate and an empty glass and dolls, trucks, doll carriages, little farm and ranch sets, Cowboy/Cowgirl outfits, doll dishes, sports equipment, radios, games, etc. - a dream load of wonderful toys. My favorite Christmas was the year when my main present was a huge, almost lifesize Madame Alexander doll lying in a beautiful box with pink tissue paper, dressed in a pretty organdy-like blue and white dress with patent-leather shoes and white lacy socks. I carried that big thing to meals, to play, to play tea parties, outside/inside with me - whatever I did. I slept with her, changed her clothes almost every day and did her hair. She was my constant companion and wore my young arms out hefting her around until I learned to walk her. It was so slow to stand behind her and leg at a time swing her so she'd "walk" but way less tiring! I still have pictures of "Penny" and me together. I don't remember anything else I got that Christmas - just Penny. I guess it was my best Christmas memory as a child.