Gillette, Wyoming - Barbie on skis, glowing Christmas presents
Posted: Monday, December 19, 2011
by Amanda Liesinger
http://www.lechampiondehockey.com
The first Christmas I remember is back in Gillette, Wyoming, the little town where I spent the first years of my life that I can remember.
There are five kids in my family and always a plan to opening presents - oldest to youngest. I'm second youngest, so you could say all of my patience today originated from this.
We always opened presents before lunch and sometimes before the sun came up. I still believed in Santa Claus, wondering how all of those presents fit under our fake tree. They seemed to glow. The wrapping was perfect on every single one. I didn't even know that there were so many types of wrapping paper. It had to be Santa.
My siblings, all under the age of 10 except for my oldest brother, went just as nuts over their presents as I did. If I wasn't gasping and trying to pry the Barbie from the twisties that held its limbs to the cardboard, it was my brother flying a huge Star Wars spaceship in the air.
It was utter selfishness now that I think about it - I can't remember how hard Mom and Dad worked to get us those presents and I sure can't remember what time Mom woke up to start the turkey for the Christmas lunch. All I saw was the toys spread in front of me and playing with my little sister, then watching the dinner table light up with a white lace tablecloth and special crystal goblets for our milk.
I was blessed to have traditions like these within my family. We continued them through grade school when we moved to South Dakota, then through high school and college when my parents moved back to Wyoming.
I will always remember the excitement and magic of the first few years in Gillette but I know there are more years of magic to come.
I apologize to the Wryte Stuff community - it has been a long time since I've posted an article. I recently moved and was working a temp job to save for it. It's good to be back and Happy Holidays!
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)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!
Nice article!
Paul
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