December 24

Nothing remarkable has happened on Christmas Eve since 1966.

1964

Merry Christmas! It’s really the 25^th, 1:30 a.m. I just got back from the O’s. I sat for them while they went to Mass. Guess what!!! They gave me a Christmas present! It was they who financed (indirectly) all the Christmas gifts I bought. How can I ever thank them? I can’t wait to see what it is. M gave me a present, too. I’m going to open the out of family gifts first.

Comment 2022

Part of my morning ritual is to check my “memories” on Facebook. For December 24, in fifteen years of entries, eight mention snickerdoodles. These cinnamon-sprinkled sugar cookies have been a tradition for me since I was six, and learned to make them in Bluebirds. (The CampFire equivalent of Brownies.) On Mom’s yellowed recipe card, they were called “Jo’s Bluebird Cookies”. Mom used to make lots of sweet treats for Christmas: rolled sugar cookies (I still have the plastic and aluminum cookie cutters), ice box cookies with chocolate spirals, and remand green spritz cookies. She also made anise-flavored “glass candy” and peanut brittle.

It’s 6 degrees outside today, there is frost on the windows, and I am making snickerdoodles.

1966

Mom’s “nice Lutheran boy” is ridiculous. All he ever says is “Holy mackerel and tamales!”. Erg.

Went to South Kent School faculty party with Dad and mom, met several nice kids my ages (most in college). One Greg was a tall boy of about 20. Boy is right. He drank a lot of beer, and smoked awkwardly, probably trying to impress me. We square danced and I think he was superbly disgusted with my lack of coordination.

Last night I went a dance with Marcia and Cindy. Stu H was there and we danced quite a bit. I hope he still likes me; we were pretty good friends in junior high. Thursday we go to a dinner with Dad’s friends and Tuesday is Marcia’s party.

Comment 2023

And nothing remarkable has happened on Christmas Eve since 1966.