Mother's "Best" Christmas

Phil's surprise arrival home for Christmas!
That is Marlene's graduation picture above the chair.

Mother wrote of her "Best" Christmas.  Both Phil and Marlene were away from home for the first time, and mother was very lonesome for them.  Marlene was away at school in Seattle, where she had earned a scholarship, and Phil had joined the Air Force.  She heard the song "Silver Bells" and it made her cry, thinking of her children who were so far from home. 

When the family was picking out a Christmas Tree, mother thought a smaller one would do.  She wasn't expecting anyone other than us little kids.  When Christmas Eve arrived, the front door flew open and across the living room floor scooted a big duffel bag, and Phil came in after it.  He made his way home for Christmas for a wonderful surprise for us all.  On Christmas Day, Marlene called to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and it made the holiday complete for mother, who always looked on this as her Best Christmas Ever!

I remember Phil and the tree.  He was so tall, he could look down at the top of the tree.  The ornaments we had were unique I think.  We had some that looked like candles that when they warmed up, would bubble so it appeared to be a flame.  We had the large bulbs that were popular at the time, and to make them more interesting, we had some colored flame resistant material that looked like cotton balls that were placed over the light bulbs and made a soft glow.  The tree was never complete without lots of tinsel.  Mother always had a round mirror in the living room, and every year she taped a two dimensional foil ornament to it that folded out and looked like a big silver snowflake. 

Mother would bake sugar cookies that were numbered 1 - 12.  We got a cookie each day that counted down to Christmas.  They were kept on top of the freezer in the kitchen.  They were delicious! 

Mother always baked sugar cookies that counted the days until Christmas.
I'm pretty sure, there were some of those cookies and pies on the freezer
behind us.  Seated at the table from right to left is Georgia, Mary Lou
and Dean was pretty brave, sitting in daddy's chair!