Christmas Eve…Time to Take a Sentimental Journey

Dear Reader:

Christmas Eve is here and it is time to take a “Sentimental Journey.” Of all the days of the year…this one, for me, is always the most sentimental. A day for memories.

The stanza to this popular Doris Day song sums the sentiment up exactly…

Gonna take a sentimental journey
Gonna set my heart at ease
Gonna make a sentimental journey
To renew old memories

There are certain items (traditions and memories) that I wait until Christmas Eve to put out…the first of these is: the “Boo Boo” stockings. (Eloise’s stocking just arrived yesterday…Whew!)

I sure hope Rudolph with his nose so bright is ready to pull the sleigh tonight because it is a foggy Christmas Eve here with rain expected…might have to get creative with the snowball fight. Anne said they are expecting a white Christmas in Connecticut at her sister’s house…no need for fake snowballs….they have the real thing.

The grandchildren need something to ‘tie’ them over until Santa comes tomorrow morning. This is the time for crazy noises and silly hats! Nothing big…just funny things.

For example some little items I found at the Dollar Tree this past week were one dollar Christmas solar-powered plastic globes. Each has an item hanging down that moves back and forth in the Christmas scene…powered by the sun…solar movement. And guess which one I got for myself….A Christmas scene with a red cardinal flying above…going back and forth under the afternoon sun’s rays falling on the table. It’s Sammy!

How I remember this Santa Claus…it took months to get him off lay-away….the wonderful Diane Wilson (last name then) had made this Santa in her shop People, Places, and Quilts. Finally I got him and he has been so special to me every since. Every piece of cloth/quilt on him homespun and adorable.

This was another Santa I purchased while there before I left…this one is more like a rag doll…but I love the quilts…I do miss working weekends in the shop adjacent to Diane’s…so many beautiful items to see created right before you. (This memory involves working to pay for pretty items in the shops…that took all my money!)

Each year new, special memories are formed….for example I love my new cup from Luke and Chelsey. And the traditional snowball fight is already in the making.

So until tomorrow:

“Today is my FAVORITE day” Winnie the Pooh

*Take a moment to share this Christmas Adventure with Kevin the Carrot…voted the most popular ad for 2017

Aldi Christmas Advert ft. Kevin The Carrot 2017 – YouTube

Mollie sent this fun photo of the boys with Santa Claus…a memory captured forever.

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”

View all posts by Becky Dingle →

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.