And so......

I'm sitting in the beauty shop today, making an attempt at becoming beautiful and the really sweet, but really odd stylist, is talking non-stop about Christmas. Christmas. Christmas. CHRISTMAS! She wouldn't give it a break. After about 40 minutes she got on the subject of worse Christmas memories ever. !! Of course, everyone in the shop had an experience to relate. Mine is actually a non-memory because I didn't know what almost happened -- at the time. It was related to me years later, when I had children of my own, and I still tremble at how my mom must have felt.

Here goes: It started out as a typical 1950's Christmas in B'ham, AL. My brothers and I had our picture taken with Santa at the Tutwiler Hotel in downtown B'ham. I think all the kids lining up to sit on Santa's lap was even televised back then. Chilly weather. Beautiful tree. The Christmas Eve call from Santa -- I never did learn who that Santa was, but I have my suspicious that it was my uncle. Then to bed to dream of the presents that would be awaiting under the tree in the morning.

Of course, that's when the work began for my mom and dad. Unpacking the boxes of toys that had been picked up from layaway at Pizitz and then carefully hidden at the family business until pick up time on Christmas Eve. I imagine my dad drove to the store and loaded our boxes -- probably meeting up with several uncles who were there picking up their own boxes -- and then headed back home.

I can only imagine the reaction as my mom realized that my toys weren't there. Not a single thing. So what did she do? Something probably unthinkable now. She picked up the phone and called store security. And....they answered. And....the security guy looked but couldn't find anything. So....he called the store manager. And....the store manager called my mom to ask her questions about how old I was, what mom had laid away, etc. And....the store manager went to the store, loaded up some toys and delivered them to my house. This was after midnight.

I awoke to the normal present-filled living room on Christmas morning -- never suspecting the ordeal my parents (and a certain security guard and store manager) must have gone though. It still amazes me that this happened. I don't think the outcome would be anything like that today.