Arlene Wright-Correll

The First Christmas I Remember©



Posted: Thursday, December 15, 2011

by Arlene Wright-Correll
http://www.learn-america.com

This writing assignment is another hard one for me for several reasons.  First, I am not keen on Christmas even though I made sure our children’s Christmas was as perfect as it could be with everything from caroling to gifts to trees, to annual Christmas parties for family and friends and magnificent dinners.  However once the last kid left home we never, ever did any of those things.

Secondly, I do not buy in the Christmas story and it is as simple as that because of all the commercialism that goes with it.

Thirdly, I do not like the fact that I am expected on a certain day to give and receive gifts when I spend all year giving away things to people that I think they might like, enjoy or need.

Often as a kid in Brooklyn, coming out of the great depression and into World War II Christmas was chaotic.

I do not think I can remember one specific Christmas as the first memory, but I can remember instances such as my brother George as a crawling baby crawling under our Christmas tree and trying to take a bite out of a large red Christmas ornament that he thought was an apple. So that would make me almost 6 years old.

I can remember early on setting up Lionel Electric trains around the tree and each year adding something to it.

I can remember the several tough times we stayed at my grandmothers and she made Christmas especially nice for us kids with decorating the tree with things we made.

I suppose in my subconscious mind there is more about Christmas that I want to forget

About the Author & Artist. Arlene Wright-Correll (1935- ___), popular American award winning Artist, published author, columnist, & is the resident art instructor for Avalon Stained Glass School, at the age of 68, decided to pick up her paint brushes again after 54 years and paint.  She is a cancer and stroke survivor who is able to strive forward each and everyday to welcome the beauty of this small planet.  She also is a China & Porcelain painter, Sandblasting & Etching, Stained Glass & fused glass Artisan. She is one of the six KY Artists who worked 6 months to create the dolls for Journey Jots in 2006 and a Smithsonian Institute art exhibit in 2008. Her published books can be found here . She is also a featured writer for GreenThumbArticles.com and teaches Art Vacation Holidays at Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center.

First Christmas
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Christofer French
 132 days 14 hours ago.
71 fans.
Christmas is a demarcation point for good and ill. It has a hold of our hearts and minds in a sociological way, and marks up personally, depending upon the fabric of our lives. Good job.
» left by Paul Schroeder 129 days 18 hours ago.
71 fans.
Poignant recollections.

I recall sitting at a Christmas table with a woman opposite me whose sweater blinked tiny lights off and on, constantly; I don't know how it worked, but after three glasses of wine, I wanted to unplug her!

Merry Christmas!

Paul
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