Christmas Through a Child's Eyes (26 page)

BY LESE DUNTON

W
e lived in New Jersey — surrounded by trees — in what my father referred to as “a curious old house.” On Christmas Eve, we had a family tradition. Actually, we had several, but my favorite one was when my father read '
Twas the Night Before Christmas
to the family.

It wasn't so much the way he read the story, placing the same comforting emphasis on the same reliable sentences each year. Nor was it the way we three children snuggled up in our pajamas, smiling and excited. These elements were important, but it had more to do with the fact that my father was sober.

I didn't know why I loved him so much that night every year. I didn't realize it was because, for some reason, he decided not to drink. I just knew he was present among the presents. He was really there: warm, caring, enchanting.

He would read aloud with great theatrical flair, “And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.” I didn't want it to end. I knew in the morning he'd be distant again, disappearing to “check the garage” or get something out of the basement. Soon, he would act strange and not pay any attention to me. The next thing I knew, he'd be asleep in front of the television and my mother would be sad.

Another tradition was to make sandwiches for Santa Claus. Surely, he would appreciate the nourishment after such a long trip. My two older brothers knew that Santa was actually Dad, but I had not yet discovered this fact. You can imagine my horror when one Christmas Eve they told me of their prank: pouring Tabasco sauce on Santa's snacks. I assumed the red-suited man, nice as he was, would be upset and hurt. Who could blame him? A naughty act had been committed — which I was unable to prevent — and Christmas would certainly be canceled!

Miraculously, the next morning everything proceeded beautifully. I learned, years later, that Dad thought it had been very funny. He had a great sense of humor; he never got upset about anything — even when there was a need for concern. “No problem” was one of his favorite sayings.

One year, when I was a teenager, he gave me a big, hardcover book called The Synonym Finder, and on it he wrote, To my favorite daughter, who loves words and things; who is Xmas. I was his favorite daughter because I was his only daughter. Our cornball humor connection was strong.

I often search for synonyms in the book he gave me — just for the fun of it — and when I read his inscription to me again, I remember the holidays and how much love and vitality were within him. He wouldn't always speak the words in depth or at length, but he could write them, and he could communicate with his sparkling blue eyes.

“We have to have a Yule Log for Christmas!” he'd proclaim excitedly, with the wide-eyed wonder of a kid, as the big day approached. This announcement was followed by stomping around outside to locate the biggest piece of wood on the property.

“How about this one, Dad?” I would finally ask.

“No,” he'd whisper, “I have a special one all picked out.”

Eager to see the log he'd already picked out, I walked behind him, into the woods where the perfect log was finally revealed. This outing was even more adventurous when punctuated by a snowstorm, which we both loved profoundly. In later years, whenever it snowed, we called each other on the phone and said the same things: “Have you looked outside?” and “Think snow!”His enthusiasm for snow and life never faltered. Still, I wished for longer talks.

On winter nights, an enormous fireplace lit up our living room with warmth and light and crackling wood. We sat quietly, mesmerized by the powerful flames. On one holiday, we began talking about a friend of ours who hadn't had a drink in a very long time. Dad looked deeply into my eyes and said, “I admire him. I just can't …” Instead of finishing his sentence, his eyes continued to talk to me. I replied — without words and holding his gaze — that it was okay. I understood and loved him very much. At that moment, my mother walked in announcing dinner, and the subject was never broached again.

A few years later, he was diagnosed with liver cancer. Fortunately, he was able to stay at home with his family at his side. His bed was moved next to a big window, where he could see the snow falling softly against the bare trees.

He had always predicted he would die quickly, “Like a one-horse open shay!” When I asked what he meant by that, he explained that for years the horse was strong and pulling the weight of the cart, and then one day it would just drop dead unexpectedly. True to his word, he was chopping wood and painting the house with great vigor right up until his illness struck. Once it hit, he made his transition within a couple of weeks; no long, drawn-out illness for him.

I see him clearly now, sitting on the couch with the classic Christmas book in his lap and his three children gathered around him. I can't help but smile at the perfect picture we make, and my heart is healed when I remember those Christmases we always enjoyed. The pop and crack from the fire is a caress to my ears. The fireplace heat radiates into the cozy living room, the colorful tree lights twinkle gently, and familiar holiday music in the background lets me know that all is well. I see Dad tip his head to one side — as if listening — then, pointing his finger up to the sky he announces in his most awe-filled voice, “And so, he exclaimed, as he rode out of sight, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

MICHAEL M. ALVAREZ
(“Holiday Visitors”), a native of Arizona, has been writing for over thirty years. His stories, poems, and articles have appeared in the Arizona Daily Star, Writer's Digest, and several anthologies. His novels include The Last Place God Made, Deliver Us From Evil, and The Treasure of the Santa Ritas.

BESS ANTISDALE
(“A Gift of Love”) enjoys baking bread and cookies for her real dollies: five children, thirteen grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Bess is a seminar conference speaker, author, and twenty-seven year radio-broadcast newsletter columnist. Her work also appears in several magazines, including Moody Monthly and Campus Life. Her husband, Wilbur J. Antisdale, is Pastor Emeritus at Westminster Chapel in Bellevue, WA.

BARBARA ANTON
(“A Doll for Jane”), of Sarasota, Florida, has received over two hundred awards for writing. Two books, Terse Verse and Savories, are available online. Look for her upcoming work, Egrets to the Flames, 50 Award-Winning Feature Articles, and Demi Verse, due out soon. Barbara, who is listed in Who's Who in America, passed away before this book was finalized.

RAYMOND L. ATKINS
(“The Christmas Gifts”) resides in Rome, Georgia. His work has been published in Christmas Stories from Georgia, The Lavender Mountain Anthology, and The Blood and Fire Review. His first novel, The Front Porch Prophet, will be published in 2008. Currently, Raymond is at work on Sorrow Wood, his second novel.

DMITRI BARVINOK
(“The Last Apple”) is a high-school sophomore, living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Among his many goals, he hopes to one day author his own book.

DOROTHY BAUGHMAN
(“A Special Christmas Card”), a freelance writer for over thirty years, has had numerous stories, along with children's and adult's books (including ebooks), published. Dorothy lives in her hometown and writes a weekly column for the local newspaper. She and her husband of forty-seven years have three children and seven grandchildren.

DELBERT L. BIEBER
(“Safely Home” and “The Empty Chair”) is pastor of First Church of the Nazarene in Toms River, New Jersey, where he has been a pastor for thirteen years; all total, Delbert has been pastoring for thirty-two years. Delbert, married to Patsy, is the father of two sons and grandfather to a one-year-old girl.

ARTHUR BOWLER
(“At the Five and Dime”), a U.S./Swiss citizen and graduate of Harvard Divinity School, is a writer and speaker in English and German. His work has appeared in several bestselling anthologies and in bestselling books in Switzerland. Look for his book A Prayer and a Swear or visit
www.arthurbowler.ch
.

MARCIA E. BROWN
(“All that Glitters” and “Wishing for Miracles”) began writing her family stories fifteen years ago to preserve them for her son. Since then, much of her work has appeared in magazines and anthologies. Marcia hopes to publish a book of her own work soon. The birth of a grandson gave new impetus to her writing goals, as she now also writes for children.

LINDA BRUNO
(“Yes, Deborah, There Really is a Santa Claus”) is a writer, speaker, and trainer. She is writing a devotional book based on how our interactions with pets mirror our relationship with God. Linda and husband, Guy, have one grown daughter, five grandchildren, and three “fur” kids. Linda can be reached at [email protected].

RANDY JEAN BRUSKRUD
(“Disappearing Act”), using her pen name, Randy Jeanne, has published one romantic suspense novel and has sold work to True Romance Magazine.

RENIE BURGHARDT
(“Memories of a Refugee Camp Christ-mas”) is a freelance writer who was born in Hungary. She came to the United States in 1951, and has since been published in over fifty anthologies and many magazines. E-mail her at: [email protected].

CARRILLEE COLLINS BURKE
(“Miracles”) has been published in many magazines, and is the winner of numerous writing contests. She is the author of one romance/mystery novel. In 2001, she was nominated for the Pushcart Prize by Dana Literary Society. Carrillee resides in Florida with her novelist husband, Ned Burke.

CONNIE STURM CAMERON
(“The School Desks”) has been married to Chuck for twenty-eight years. Together, they have two children, Chase and Chelsea, and a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth. Connie is the author of God's Gentle Nudges, and she has also been featured in dozens of periodicals and anthologies. Contact her at:
www.conniecameron.com
or [email protected].

J. HOGAN CLARK
(“Shared Popcorn”), a former employee of the Office of Naval Intelligence, is active in community affairs in Sedalia, Missouri, where he currently lives. In addition, Jack is a freelance writer and songwriter and enjoys spending his free moments on the front porch strumming on an acoustic guitar.

HELEN C. COLELLA
(“Getting it Right”) is a freelance writer from Colorado. Her work includes educational materials (geography and history workbooks), articles, and stories for adults and children. Helen is contributor to nine anthologies and numerous parenting magazines, and currently operates her own business, AssistWrite, where she offers writing and consultation services to independent publishers.

CHRISTINE E. COLLIER
(“Christmas Eve Delivery”) has been published in many children's magazines and is the author of six books: The Writer's Club; Mystery is Our Shadow; Christmas at Cliffhanger Inn; Something Borrowed, Something Blue; Adventure on Apple Orchard Road; and Twelve Months of Mystery. Her most recent book is titled A Holiday Sampler.

CHARLENE A. DERBY
(“A Christmas Aha!”) is a freelance writer who lives in Southern California with her husband and son. It is her belief that blogging is the best way to keep in touch with the “fearsome foursome” and their extended families. Her previously published stories have appeared in several compilation books and in the magazines Reminisce Extra and Focus on the Family.

LESE DUNTON
(“Love for Father”) is the founder and editor of the online publication The New Sun (
www.newsun.com
).

Lese has worked for Village Voice Newspaper, New York Daily News, CBS Television, Life magazine, and Wall Street Journal in a variety of positions, including editor, producer, writer, and designer.

SHAUNA SMITH DUTY
(“Getting Christmas”) is a freelance copywriter and full-time copy director. Her world revolves around language. She believes that words magically transfer ideas from one mind to another and have the power to make people laugh. Shauna practices the literary arts to spread peace, love, and happiness throughout the world.

NANCY JO ECKERSON
(“Growing Up Cool”) is a freelance writer and Ethical Wills facilitator from Akron, NY. Eckerson, a contributing writer for the Buffalo News, Forever Young Magazine, and numerous other publications, is an editor, and copy-writes for corporate endeavors and Web sites as well. She's older and wiser now, but still cool!

MARIE (NIKKI) ESS ELSTEIN
(“All I Want for Christmas”) is a graduate of the Ohio State University (English and history).

Currently, she works in administration for the American Motorcyclist Association. Marie feels like the luckiest person in the world to have a happy, healthy extended family that includes her teenage son, her parents, and both grandmothers.

BARBARA JEANNE FISHER
(“Sometimes Less is More” and “Through the Innocence of Childhood”) writes using the words of her heart to touch the hearts of others. The author of several children's books and editor of The Voices of Alcohol and The Voices of Lung Cancer, Barbara is pleased to show her work in various anthologies and magazines. She teaches online writing for Writer's College, and lives in Ohio with her husband and seventeen grandchildren. Look for the sequel to her novel Stolen Moments soon.

JO E. GRAY
(“Santa is Real”) was born the fourth in a family of five children. Her early years were spent on a farm in North Central Texas, where she attended classes in a one-room schoolhouse. She graduated from Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, married, and became the mother of two girls. A retired schoolteacher, Jo currently lives in Arizona with her husband of fifty years and their twelve-year-old dog.

NELIA J. GREER
(“Grandpa Will's Gift”) has lived in Arizona since 1970, and was married to Ralph for fifty-four years. Their marriage produced four children and ten grandchildren. Nelia is a devoted writer for her church, and has been published in a number of periodicals. Her favorite topic is family history. She is a longtime member of The Fountain Hills Christian Writers Group.

SHIRLEY P. GUMERT
(“The Stranger with the Cardboard Suit-case”) is a freelance writer who lives in West Kerr County, Texas. She has had her work published in the Santa Fe (New Mexico) Reporter, several other New Mexico newspapers, the Houston Chronicle's Texas Magazine, The Rocking Chair Reader: Coming home, and Classic Christmas: True Stories of Holiday Cheer and Goodwill.

MARY L. HARDWICK
(“The Tea Set”), who spent her childhood traveling the world as a military brat, found her calling in South Carolina, where she is employed as a day care director. Mary received a degree in Early Childhood Education in 1985 at USC. In addition to writing in various genres, she enjoys reading Western fiction.

M. DELORIS HENSCHEID
(“My Long Brown Stockings”), along with her husband Bernard, has nine children and thirty-one grandchildren. DeLoris graduated from Idaho State University at the age of fifty-four with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Since retirement, she has enjoyed writing about family, and has had a number of stories published in Adams Media Anthologies and in Idaho Magazine.

ANN HITE
(“The Christmas Tree Hunter”) has had her work appear in numerous publications, including The Dead Mule, Fiction Warehouse, The SiNK, A Cup of Comfort®, several additional anthologies, Moonwort Review, Plum Biscuit, and Poor Mojo's Almanac. Ann has a large family, over 1,000 books, a flower garden, and her laptop. Feel free to visit her Web site, The Painted Door, at http://home.bellsouth.net/p/pwp-painteddoor.

GEORGIA A. HUBLEY
(“Mother Nature to the Rescue”) and her husband live in Henderson, Nevada. She has two grown sons. Her work has appeared in various anthologies and magazines, including Plus Magazine, Christian Science Monitor, Birds and Bloom Magazine, Story Circle Journal, Capper's, Good Old Days Magazine, and Senior Wire Syndicate, as well as other national magazines and newspapers. Contact her at [email protected].

MARILYN JASKULKE
(“The Lonely Christmas Tree”) is a published writer; her work appears in several inspirational anthologies and Christian publications. Originally from Minnesota, Marilyn resides with her husband in Mission Viejo, California. She is the mother of four sons, eleven grandchildren, and the great-grandmother of three. Her hobbies include playing bridge, golfing, and sewing quilts for the mission field.

JEWELL JOHNSON
(“A Million Stars Looked Down”) writes from Arizona, where she lives with her husband, LeRoy. Together, they have six children and eight grandchildren. Jew-ell, a retired registered nurse, currently works as a part-time caregiver and leads a writing group. She keeps involved with children by babysitting her three young grandsons and teaching children in her church. When relaxing, Jewell reads, quilts, and takes walks.

BARBARA KIFFIN
(“Burnt Toast and Tinsel”) is retired after twenty-three years as Public Relations Manager for the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce in Red Bank, New Jersey. She was also editor and lead writer for the Chamber's newsletter, The Leading Edge. Barbara has three glorious offspring and three magnificent granddaughters. She lives alone and is as happy as a clam.

MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
(“In the Nick of Time”) is a freelance writer living in South Louisiana with her husband, David, four kids, four dogs, four cats, and one knuckle-headed bird. Her work has appeared in Parents, American Baby, Working Mother, Campus Life, Christian Parenting Today, In Touch, At-Home Mother, and Today's Christian Woman magazines, and assorted Web sites and anthologies.

EMMARIE LEHNICK
(“Let There be Light”), of Amarillo, Texas, is a retired teacher with a B.S. and M.A. in English/Speech.

She is a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, and has been published in magazines as well as in Christian Miracles, The Rocking Chair Reader, and three volumes of A Cup of Comfort ®. She and her husband have one daughter, one son, and four grandsons.

HELEN LUECKE
(“The Perfect Gift”) lives in Amarillo, Texas, with her husband Richard. Helen is cofounder of Inspirational Writers Alive! Amarillo Chapter. She writes short stories, articles, and devotionals, and has been published in several anthologies, as well as other inspirational publications.

VIVIENNE MACKIE
(“Time of Delight”) left her small Rhodesia village and ended up in South Africa, then the United States, to pursue careers in psychology and ESL. Her sisters still live in Zimbabwe and South Africa, but even though separated by many miles, they continue to be very close.

CINDY NAPP A MCCABE
(“Memories Will Follow”) has wanted to be a writer since she was seven years old. Fifty-one years later, Cindy has begun to seriously follow her childhood dream. She lives with her loving husband, Rodney, and her seventeen-year-old cat, Pachelbel Canon, and is grateful for close family and friends. Currently, Cindy enjoys writing stories that revolve around the memories of her extended family, whom helped make her childhood wonderful.

LYNN RUTH MILLER
(“An Aunt Sunne Christmas” and “Santa's Messenger”) had stories — “Thoughts While Walking the Dog” and “More Thoughts While Walking the Dog” — published in 2001. Lynn Ruth has also published two novels: Starving Hearts (May 2000) and The Late Bloomer (2005). Her storytelling shows are presented regularly in San Francisco and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.