When we were kids, the arrival of the Sears Christmas "wish book" was a big event. Long before computers and Internet shopping, it was mail order. The slim, fancy Sears catalog would come in the fall, and by the holiday it was dog-eared and circled up. Of course for children and parents too, flipping through it wasn't a question of purchasing, but dreaming.
Even in the lean years, our folks always managed to stretch the budget and make Christmas special for the three of us kids. I even remember mom using a Christmas Club at the bank once. This was a Depression era invention, where you deposited a tiny amount of money each week and the bank wouldn't let you touch it until the end of the year for Christmas shopping.
Once again, I'm showing my age. But we grew up in the time (unless you were rich or spoiled) when kids only got new toys on Christmas or birthdays. So it was a big deal. Santa always brought something to play with, something to read, and something to wear. And a stocking crammed with little things.
Looking at these old catalog pictures brings back good memories. Oh, I probably drooled over these very dolls from the 1956 catalog.
At Bartells Drugstore yesterday, I watched a little girl throw herself on the floor and have a tantrum because her dad wouldn't buy her the toy she wanted. Just three weeks before Christmas. Instead of taking her out of the store (or in 1956, spanking her on the spot) he patiently reasoned and coaxed and tried to get her to pick another toy. As I say, I've lived a long time.
Yesterday our lovely cut Christmas tree was delivered free from the West Seattle Nursery. (There are some advantages living in the urban village.) It's sitting outside now in a bucket of water in the rain, so it should be plenty hydrated by the time we bring it in. We go to the Symphony on Sunday so I'm looking forward to the weekend.
I hope you have a nice one, too.
See you Monday.
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