Terrace Talk

Notes for December

By the time this arrives, I hope all of us have enjoyed a great Thanksgiving and are now looking forward to the wonders of another Christmas. Of course, the ads have been on since Halloween, and Hallmark Christmas movies have been running since summer.

Nevertheless, no matter how old we get, Christmas always seems to awaken some pleasant memories and perhaps a little anticipation. If your family is blessed with small children, that helps. Enjoy the lights, the food, and whatever gifts come your way. I think I enjoy the music of the season the most.

“Have yourself a merry little Christmas….”

Of course, the end of the year follows soon after. It’s a good time to reflect on the events of the past year, good and bad, and to remember the family and friends we have lost. We will miss them and treasure their memories. Looking forward, may we all have a happy and healthy new year! Yay, 2025!

-Karen Waitz

A Christmas Memory

Grandpa Fritz

My Grandpa Fritz was quite a character. He and my Grandma Anna had eight children, and Grandpa supported them by driving a beer truck pulled by horses.

Each Christmas all of the relatives would gather at their house for dinner. The menfolk received a bottle of Virginia Dare wine, and the womenfolk received a loaf of homemade banana bread for their holiday presents. The grandchildren all had stockings hung on the fake fireplace in the small living room.

All of a sudden the lights went out except for the flame-lit candles on the tree, and the children were shuffled out of the living room, while Grandpa Fritz was ranting, “That old goat better give me good presents this year, because last year he gave me a switch, a lump of coal, and a rotten banana.”

As I was an only child and loved Grandpa Fritz so much, I cried and asked him not to call Santa “an old goat,” because I wanted Santa to see him as a good Grandpa this year.

The lights came back on, and we were ushered back into the living room, where we saw our filled stockings. We children all had an orange, a popcorn ball, and a small gift. Grandpa Fritz went to his stocking and discovered a switch, a lump of coal, and a rotten banana. Again, he called Santa “an old goat,” and said that next year better be much better.

After dinner, all of us went back into the living room, turned off the lights except for the Christmas tree, and sang Christmas carols a cappella, in German and in harmony.

Several years later Grandpa Fritz passed away in his sleep, and Christmas died a little for all of us, too. But the beautiful memory of him is still alive forever in my heart.

-Barbara Sokolowski