Christmas Memories
December 24th, 2008 by Rodney LeeRemember the anxiety of waiting for Christmas morning to come so you could open all your presents? The days leading up to Christmas would seem to go slower and slower as Christmas day got closer and closer. Remember picking up and shaking your presents - trying to get an idea of what's inside? Taking inventory daily to see if any new presents might have arrived? Planning your strategy of which presents to open first and which ones to save for last?
How about Christmas traditions? When I was a kid, we used to go to church on Christmas eve night for candlelight service. Those were the best because that meant we got to hold a candle (and play with fire). Then after that, we'd head home and get ready for bed - just so the morning would come sooner and we'd get to open our presents.
But first, one tradition was that we would open 1 present before going to bed. Of course we had it all planned out days before of what that present would be. It was the one from the uncle/auntie that always gave us clothes. Mine would always be too small for me, and my older brother's one would be just my size. We could tell just from the size, weight, and feel of the present that it was a clothes box. And a quick shake confirmed it. My theory was that if I opened a good present the night before, I'd want to play with it and not go to sleep. So open the junk one as the-night-before-gift so it's out of the way and I wouldn't get too excited to fall asleep. Why even bother to open a gift the night before knowing that it's a junk one? Tradition, I guess. btw, this was when I was just an ungrateful kid when the motto was: Toys, good. Clothes, junk.
As I got older - 11 years old to be exact - I remember this version of T'was the Night Before Christmas. I must have had the poster or something because I can remember pretty well. But before you read it, remember - this was back in 1969 - when love, peace, and drugs were "in".
Ole Saint Narc
a parody by John Rock
Berkeley Free Press 1969
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Pad,
there was nothing much happening, a real bummer, “Dad”,
Our Hookas were hung by the fireplace with care,
and a thick pungent smoke was filling the air.
Now Ma in her headset had just popped a Cap
and was laid in her bed, where she started to Rap.
The children were loaded on bennies and reds,
and visions of acid cubes danced in their heads.
From out on the lawn we heard a great crash,
pulled up the window and threw out the stash!
Then POW!, in an instant I heard it again,
We thought maybe someone had called “The Man”!
Instead, there he was, a hash pipe jammed 'tween his teeth,
and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath!
He kicked down the door screaming “Freeze, it's a BUST!”
and my ole lady shouted, “Hell, who can you trust?!”
But then he assured us it was only a gag,
after we’d already thrown out the bag!
His threads were all tarnished from ashes and smoke,
but he fired up a number and offered a toke.
He was pale and anemic, if not underfed,
and his eyes were like pinwheels that spun in his head!
What a bundle of junk he had flung over his back,
He looked like a pusher when he opened his sack.
We offered some acid, his answer was “No”,
we could see he was skinny from snorting the Snow!
Then he laid out his presents down next to the tree,
a kilo of “Gold” and some great LSD!
Some Uppers for Ma and some Downers for ME!
He was surely Saint Narc and we had to agree,
“Sorry I’m late folks but “man am I beat!”
I’m really exhausted from dodging the heat.
I was high over Reno up in the Blue,
when they started to tail me in a B-52!
It was aerial combat with a big flying Pig,
but I made it to Frisco to finish my Gig.
Then laying a finger aside his red nose,
he sniffed six rails of coke and a cap of No-Doze.
He ran to his craft, not a reindeer and sleigh,
but a giant balloon that went up and away,
And we heard him exclaim as he flew in the night,
“Stay stoned till next year, you’re all “OUTTA SIGHT!”
I told you it was from that druggie/hippie era. One song that reminds me of Christmas day is Liz Damon's 1900 Yesterday. Actually, the whole album does. I believe I bought this LP for the family one Christmas. Actually, it was mostly for me. And as you know, whenever you get a new album - you play it over and over, again and again, side A and side B. I guess I must have over did it as hearing that song reminds me of Christmas morning - after the presents are all opened and everyone is laid back, busy messing with their new stuff.
Do any of you remember downtown during Christmas time?
Fort Street mall 1969
Fort Street mall 1971
I remember seeing pictures of a downtown street during Christmas time with lights and decorations strung across the street from one side to the other. I tried looking for those pictures, but unfortunately all I found was the Fort Street mall ones. My Big Bro was telling me that King St. used to have lights or decorations strung across it all the way to Kaimuki. Does that ring a bell for anyone?
Kaimuki is an old town. I could image lights and decorations strung across Waialae avenue. Does that jog anyone's memory?
How about Christmas parades? When I used to work at Windward Volkswagen, I used to stand alongside the gas pumps on an early Saturday evening and watch the Kailua Santa Claus parade go by. I'd look for anyone I know marching in the Kailua High School band. Then later after we moved to town and had our 2 girls, we'd make it a point to attend the Liliha Christmas parade - always on the day after Thanksgiving. Paula once marched in that parade with the Kawananakoa band so it has a special meaning to her. Me, I go for the candy. For the kids, of course.
How about it? What are your Christmas memories? Did you have certain Christmas traditions when you were small? Do you have Christmas traditions today - maybe some of the same ones you passed on to your children? Is there a certain gift you remember getting one Christmas that was so special that you still remember it to this day - like the Liz Damon LP I bought for myself? Okay, it wasn't so special then, but because it reminds me of that Christmas morning, it's special to me today.
I'll be taking Friday off for the day-after-Christmas sales so there probably won't be a Friday entry. Please feel free to continue commenting on the Do You Remember...Toys? entry or posting what cool presents you received to this entry.
But before I go, I want to wish all the MLCers:
Tags: candlelight service, Christmas, Christmas gifts, Christmas morning, Christmas parade, Christmas traditions, kailua, Liliha, Liz Damon 1900 Yesterday, Midlife Crisis, Ole Saint Narc, Windward Volkswagen
December 24th, 2008 at 12:21 am
Ohhhh I just rode through downtown tonight for Christmas lights! hee hee....
December 24th, 2008 at 1:01 am
whoa HNL2LAS.....at least you wasn't late for this post.
one of the traditions we had was to go to my aunt's dem house to have a dinner/party on x-mas eve. we played games and stuff like that. i think the adults would make us kids exhausted on purpose so we could fall asleep.
other than that......was just da usual excruciating wait until x-mas day to literally TEAR into all da presents.
one thing i remember was that for a coupla years......my mom bought one of those cards that had the little doors that you opened for each day leading up to x-mas. i thought that made the wait MORE painful.
ho......dats some vintage pix there.
December 24th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Rodney:
Liz Damon...that brings back memories....one of my favorites by her:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVd0yTDNThc
A tradition my kids and I have is to watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation on xmas eve. I don't know about tonight as my daughter is working. Tomorrow will be a hectic day for them too as they have to visit their BF/GF families, their mom, and me. And I have my yearly xmas with my best friend's family.
This is my first Christmas with the MLC, WWD, and O&E group. Merry Christmas to all....
December 24th, 2008 at 6:00 am
I look back and my fondest (not pleasant at the time) christmas memory was the day I realized that Santa did not exist. Every year we would get a gift and stocking stuffed by Santa. One year (I think I was eight years old) I looked in my stocking and found a very cool purple plastic VW Bug toy car. I was excited until I found the price tag on the bottom of the car. It was from Woolworths. My first thought was whoooaaa Santa gets his stuff from Woolworths?? I remember mulling over this for days on end until I finally figured out that it was my mom and dad buying stuff for us and putting santa's name on the gift tag.
December 24th, 2008 at 6:08 am
I love that Liz Damon album! There's a radio show called Hawai`i Radio Connection up here, and one of the hosts (Uncle Ed Tanaka, originally from Kailua!) played "1900 Yesterday" one time last year, and boy did that take me back - better than a time machine!
Christmas Eve used to be the big deal in my family. We'd go to Grandma's house early to help cook and clean. There'd be relatives there that I hadn't seen all year. Wow, the potluck spread was terrific. Then singing Christmas carols after that. When I was little, the party didn't break up until after 2 a.m.
I got to open up my one present before going to Grandma's. I got to open the rest on Christmas Eve after we got home! I think my parents wanted to be able to sleep in on Christmas morning (and we often did, considering we wouldn't get to sleep until 4 a.m.)
Christmas Day would be much quieter - presents were already open! Christmas dinner was back at Grandma's house, but just with mom, dad, favorite aunty, grandma and me and ono potluck leftovers. Dad would always fall asleep in the recliner.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
December 24th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Good morning all
Nomo time to read
gatta go work, be back lata's
Have a good one everybody
December 24th, 2008 at 7:13 am
RL, I remember the lights strung across King st. in downtown and on Waialae ave. in Kaimuki. If you go to Big City Dinner in Kaimuki they have a picture on the wall with the lights strung across Waialae ave.
Have a Merry Christmas Rodney and Paula!!!!!
December 24th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Hey Rod, I think I get that Liz Damon album somewhere. I told me wife no sell the records at her garage sale.
Wow Fort Street mall was jamming in those days. Now I scared walk down there after sundown.
What is sad, even here in Hilo, street decoration was a big thing. Now? Nothing. People used to go driving around in the neighborhood checking out people's yard and house decoration. It's there but not as prevalent as before. People used to have friendly competition on who has the best decorations. And there were contests.
Sometime, I wish we could go back in time. *sigh*
Have a great one gang.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Ah now i see the genius of taking the kids to a midnight church service! they MIGHT sleep late... or they might still be standing by mom's bed at 4.30 am.
we never woke up to the smell of fresh cinnabuns and bacon, thats for sure. the drinking went on so long on Christmas Eve, our bright faces were not well received at 4.30!!
we always had something standing under the tree, without wrapping, maybe just a giant bow. it was wonderful to round the corner and know that Santa had been there! the bike or the big doll or toy kitchen deserved to be the shining centerpiece, and then we had to be urged to start on presents. so Dad had time to get his coffee and light up, and the look on his face was wonderful. Mama always sat beside him (come to think back, you know they were really in love all their lives) and we would run back and forth to them.
December 24th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Oh, another tradition....watch The Christmas Story.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I CAN GO ONE BETTER THEN YOU, I CAN REMEMBER WHEN THE
CHRISTMAS PARADE WENT DOWN KING STREET AND SANTA USED TO THROW THE CANDY SO HARD WE HAD TO DUCK TO CATCH THE CANDY. THAT WAS NICE AS WE DID NOT HAVE TO GO INTO WAIKIKI AND BELIEVE ME THE CROWD DID TURN OUT FOR THE PARADE.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:21 am
I have bits and pieces of Christmas memories...when I was very litte I remember vaguely getting a sock full of crackers..and rich cousins got real candy! Then as I got older at age 13 we got adopted by the aunts and uncle I remember I would crack one side of present tape it back up
I thinkI saw my brother do that becasue I wasn't so smart I rip mine at the side then my oldest said open it where it was tape so not obvious and tape it back neatly....! My two smarter brothers finally told me they used to look for presents under our parents room. I don't look!My brothers would shake their presents and retape ..so I follow. Then we had to go to church I hated the candle because wax would fall on my skin. Then the last time I went they added those cardboard ring around the candles the church so long all I can think was the present ! Only two present to open so not much to shake. Now that I have two kids I try to give them happy memories you never know they might blog it! I try my best to give them special memories I even trick my oldest into believing in Santa until he was twelve and recently he said he used to research on the net to see if Santa was real! He was very naive.The youngest son knows by age 7 He said to me your writing is like SANTA.He was rummaging and noticed that some present it says from SANTA and it wasn't even Christmas day! I remember more of happy Christmas tradition with my own children.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Happy Holidays Rodney and Paula! Hoping you find some DEALS on Friday.
OL
December 24th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Merry Christmas to all!
December 24th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Uncle Rodney and Paula -
Have a great Christmas and even bettah "day aftah"!
Eh, if you find deals on CF or Pro Duo cards - let me know ok?
Enjoy your kim chee...... FIRE IN DA HOLE! (no light a match eh)
December 24th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Then: making memories..
Now: buying memory..
too funny..
have a very MC, UR & MLCers..
uj
December 24th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Thanks "M" for remembering the lights, I thought I had dreamed all the light thing. This was when you could drive from Kalihi on King St. all the way to Waialae in either direction cause it was 2 ways.
Okay it's time for Rod's Big Bro to wish all a very Merry Christmas, which will be for me now that I have all the friends from the Triad. This year was okay, then in July it went to s_ _t, and then, after starting to read and participate with the Great People of the Triad, "LIFE IS GOOD".
And now time to get ready and jog da memory about fireworks hi-jinks, this should be good except for da poor Maui peeps who can't do fireworks
December 24th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Happy Holidays, Uncle Rodney! Please wish the same to Aunty Paula and the rest of your ohana. Thanks for everything and hope to see you again soon.
As for Christmas traditions, we kinda did away with Christmas breakfast at my grandma's. We've been going to brunch for the last few years, usually at Pagoda which is where we're going this year.
December 24th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Merry Christmas Rodney and Aunty Paula and everyone here at MLC!
December 24th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Merry Christmas to all of you MLC bloggers
December 24th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Merry Christmas Everyone!
ps: I seen Liz Damon working at the Freemont Hotel in Vegas a few months ago..........................
December 25th, 2008 at 12:50 am
Merry Christmas, MLCers! Thank you for making MidLife Crisis blog such a success.
* And welcome to MidLife Crisis, Judy Brinck!
December 25th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Mele Kalikimaka to you all! Thank you to Uncle Rodney for doing this blog, and to Aunty Paula for "letting" him do this blog (hee hee... ), just kidding! Hope it's a great day tomorrow for everyone!
December 25th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Merry Christmas UR & AP
"MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY"
December 26th, 2008 at 6:17 am
In the 50's, we always went to the Ewa Plantation Christmas program. There were skits and nativity stories put on by children. Live music, sometimes hula and one time Tommy Kono came, flexed his muscles, lifted weights and blew up this hot water bottle until it exploded...I was impressed! But the highlight was when Santa gave presents to every kid. It was usually a small toy but we were thrilled. The program was preceded by a Santa parade though Ewa town. There would be a plantation truck following Santa with kids throwing candy to everyone...fun.
December 27th, 2008 at 10:37 am
I hope everyone made it through the power outage.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
good to see HA back online. i sure never saw or heard of such an outage before. God bless.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
hey, Anklebiters! how did you do in the freeze? our little hale was snug, but 31 outside. be sure to leave your tap on tonight again.
December 27th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
ducksinthewind:
Thermostat for the heater in the house is set to 70...can't be walking around the house in t-shirt and shorts. Pipes are still OK as we don't get below freezing around here but we have to cover our bushes. Was thinking about washing my car tonight
December 28th, 2008 at 11:30 am
UR & AP; eh lucky we neva go see Gail and Gordon on Friday night yeah
December 28th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
@NKHEA - Yeah, good thing we neva venture out to Wahiawa on Friday night. But had Rainbow's boneless chicken (gravy all over) and hash/egg plate lunch today -thanks to you and IKHEA. Mahalo!