Christmas, poor style

Being there were four of us kids, ranging from me at 1 or 2, the baby, up to my sister, who was probably 9 or 10 at the time, Christmas was always bitter sweet.  One year when I was still a baby, and dad had gambled all the money away - again, mom had to be creative with the $20 she had to spare for Christmas.  Not to say that dad was habitual gambler, but in his younger days, he was a big unruly and undisciplined, and he always let money run through his fingers like water.

Well, for Christmas mom decided to do finger foods on party trays instead of a big traditional Christmas dinner because lunch meat was cheap.  So she got a bunch of cheese and lunch meats, olives, you know what I'm talking about, and a cheap bottle of wine, most like Reunitie's Lambrusco.  She made up these party trays and put them in the living room for us to eat there.

Now you have to know, we were not allowed into the living room - ever.  It was strictly for the preacher and the avon lady.  So this alone was rare treat because we could actually walk in there instead of jumping from furniture piece to furniture piece so mom couldn't see our foot prints in the raked carpet.

Mom got us all cleaned up and somehow managed to get some small gifts wrapped and under the tree and we had Christmas on Christmas eve.  This eliminated the need for stuffing stockings. All of us kids, thought this was the best thing ever - food we got to eat with our fingers, a small glass of wine, presents and we got to be in the living room.

Needless to say, this tradition stayed with us throughout our time living at home.  I've even taken to doing it with my husband, except that he and I usually drink all those little mini bottles of booze he puts into my stocking and get a bit ripped.


From my sister:

Then there was the year we all got only one little package under the tree and since I was use to having to wear whatever came from the thrift store or mom's 50 style clothes from when she was in school I have always been fearful of surprises. So, I would have nothing to do with surprises - still don't like them. So, I always unwrapped my gifts and placed them back, that way if I was extremely disappointed, I could get all my crying done and so not to hurt their feelings when it came time to open them. I had my game face on with OMG look. 

That year when I opened it, I was horrified because I was preteen and it was an ugly boys watch. I cried for weeks about it. Well, when Christmas Eve came around because that's when we opened presents my brother David was shocked and OMG face busted out "God Lord why would you give me a sissy watch?" I grabbed it from him and yelled it was mine and tossed him the unopened package I had. Mom just said "Serves you right for opening them before it was time". Tag misplacement. Never knew if it was on purpose or an accident??