WHO DECORATES THE TREE? IS IT SANTA?

I haven't had too many blog subjects in my mind lately but I was asked by my niece in Ct. to write more about my memories of growing up in the tiny village of Lightstreet, PA. Specifically, she wanted more stores about her mother. Unfortunately her mother was 16 years older than me and my memories of her were as an adult and not that exciting. However, I promised I would do my best so today I am delving into my memory bank and trying to come up with a few interesting subjects. Roxanne ... this one is for you.

My sister was divorced and left with three small children. Me, being a "change of life" child, was 16 years her junior. Her oldest daughter and I were really only five years apart and more like sisters than my actual sister. However, because I was the Aunt, there were times when I had to act like the "big girl". One time that I clearly remember was at Christmas. I think I was probably only 11 or 12 but I was helping my sister get ready for the big day.

Now in our family, we always were taught that Santa Claus decorates the Christmas tree. Therefore we would go out as a family and get a nice tree the week before Christmas and stick it in a bucket outside until a couple days before the big event. The Sunday before Christmas the tree would come into the house but for at least one day it had to sit and "warm up" or as my Dad would say, for the branches to "fall out". Then the next day the lights could go on, but that was all. The decorating was done by Santa.

This means that on Christmas eve, if the mother didn't already have enough to do, she had to play Santa and decorate the damn tree. Well, I finally was old enough to know there wasn't a Santa (although I don't think I helped decorate a tree at my own home until I was well into my teen years). My mother had a problem breaking tradition I guess.

This particular Christmas, for the very first time in my life, I was getting to play Santa and help my sister (who lived next door) decorate her tree for the little ones. Well, as Christmas Eve approached and dinner time came, I was so excited that I couldn't wait for them to go to bed. Finally after bath and much excitement, into bed they went. My sister and I then drug out the decorations from the basement and she got a small ladder and we were ready to start. Also hidden in the basement were some Christmas items that (on her very small budget) she had been fixing up for Christmas ... like a play table and chairs, doll cribs, etc. Well, before we started our decorating, we hauled all the bigger gifts into the living room. Finally we were ready to start. We were doing a pretty good job, but from time time we would hear little noises from up the stairs. The kids were so excited they just couldn't settle down. We went out on the porch and made big footsteps and came in and Ho-Ho'd, hoping to scare the little rascals to sleep. It got real quiet and we thought we were in good shape. Back to decorating. About 1/2 hour later, as my sister was standing on the step stool and I was handing garland to her, we heard a noise behind us. There stood three little urchins watching us. My sister (much to my dismay) let them stay up and help decorate the tree. That was the end of Santa doing the decorating in that house!!!!