A child a few days before Christmas
Aug 18, 2017 14:12:23 GMT -5
Fossilman, fantastic5, and 1 more like this
Post by fernwood on Aug 18, 2017 14:12:23 GMT -5
Remember when you were a young child? It was a few days before Christmas. The tree was up. There were presents underneath. You had checked all the tags and many had your name on them. When no one was looking you lifted and shook each that were for you. You had even hung your stocking up early, just in case.
Of course, back then, it was not a huge, replica stocking. It had to be one of your own. One year, I decided to be smart. Hung up a pair of tights, lol. Of course, that was quickly dismissed, as "Santa gives nothing to greedy children". So back to a less than knee high, cable knit sock that would fit a 6 year old. It would only stretch out about 2.5" wide. about 12" long.
I awoke Christmas morning and feared the worst. From the toe of the sock to about ankle length, was hanging straight down. That part was also rather lumpy, the indication of coal. I was the model child, actually the only child in my extended family of 10, which included 5 foster children much older than me. I cautiously started looking at my sock. The upper part held few baseball cards, a paper doll/clothing, a little candy, a few nuts, many hair ribbons. Was delighted when I got to the lower portion. It was filled with beautiful Apache Tears, from above the ankle to the toe. There was also a note from Santa at the bottom. He knew how much I liked rocks, so was able to get these for me due to some friends he knew. Years later I found out, they were contributed by next door neighbors, whose place I frequented. They were amazed at my appreciation for beautiful rocks. They also appreciated all the garden weeding I did for them. They spent the Winters in Arizona.
Many of those Apache Tears are somewhere at my old place. I just do not know where. Know they are in the old house, whose floors are crumbling. In one of the many boxes I have stored there.
This is how I feel right now. A few days before Christmas. Cannot wait for the package from Tela's contest to arrive.
So, always remember that sharing a gift of a rock, or many, to a child who appreciates and has an eye for them is a wonderful thing to do.
Of course, back then, it was not a huge, replica stocking. It had to be one of your own. One year, I decided to be smart. Hung up a pair of tights, lol. Of course, that was quickly dismissed, as "Santa gives nothing to greedy children". So back to a less than knee high, cable knit sock that would fit a 6 year old. It would only stretch out about 2.5" wide. about 12" long.
I awoke Christmas morning and feared the worst. From the toe of the sock to about ankle length, was hanging straight down. That part was also rather lumpy, the indication of coal. I was the model child, actually the only child in my extended family of 10, which included 5 foster children much older than me. I cautiously started looking at my sock. The upper part held few baseball cards, a paper doll/clothing, a little candy, a few nuts, many hair ribbons. Was delighted when I got to the lower portion. It was filled with beautiful Apache Tears, from above the ankle to the toe. There was also a note from Santa at the bottom. He knew how much I liked rocks, so was able to get these for me due to some friends he knew. Years later I found out, they were contributed by next door neighbors, whose place I frequented. They were amazed at my appreciation for beautiful rocks. They also appreciated all the garden weeding I did for them. They spent the Winters in Arizona.
Many of those Apache Tears are somewhere at my old place. I just do not know where. Know they are in the old house, whose floors are crumbling. In one of the many boxes I have stored there.
This is how I feel right now. A few days before Christmas. Cannot wait for the package from Tela's contest to arrive.
So, always remember that sharing a gift of a rock, or many, to a child who appreciates and has an eye for them is a wonderful thing to do.