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My fondest memory
By Heather Brooks
Edison State Community College Student
Editor Note: Students in an Edison Comp II class were asked to share
their fondest memories as part of a weekly writing exercise. This one
was especially appropriate as it took a look at human nature,
especially at this time of the year. Here is Heather’s submission…
When I was five my aunt and uncle got a divorce, he left her right
around the holidays and our family was kind of in an uproar. Growing up
it was just my mom and me, so when my uncle left my aunt my mom and
aunt made a decision that we would move in with my aunt and three
cousins. The transition was rough on everyone because my mom had just
lost her job so my aunt was supporting all six of us.
About a week before Christmas I remember my mom and aunt sitting all of
us kids down and explaining to us that Santa was really busy that year
and he may not make it on Christmas Eve but he would make it
eventually. They were struggling just to keep food on the table and pay
the bills; this was no secret so we were bummed when we found out Santa
also could not make it.
My mom and aunt took us to church every Wednesday and Sunday; all us
kids participated in everything the church put on and our parents
always made sure we had "Sunday Bests" to wear. Three days before
Christmas there was a knock on the door. It was our Pastor; the church
had used the last weeks gathering plate offerings and sponsored our
family for Christmas.
They bought us enough food to last for weeks, including all the
trimmings for a great Christmas dinner. They bought all us kids
coloring books and crayons that our parents gave us on Christmas Eve;
we were so excited. On Christmas morning we woke up to toys under the
tree and our stockings filled; we thought it was a Christmas miracle.
Looking back as an adult, I know that our church provided Christmas for
us that year but we did not know that as kids. To this day that day is
forever a fond holiday memory. I take my girls every year to buy
presents for kids less fortunate and we volunteer through our church to
help our community. My fondest memory is also my most humbling.
Whenever I feel myself going overboard on gifts and things that do not
really matter on the holidays, I take myself back to that Christmas and
remember how happy I was with so little.
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