Christmas 1981. We lived in Houston, Texas, far from our families. My dad called to tell my husband that he needed to come home. My husband's father was very ill. We could not afford for everyone to go and our daughters were both in bed with the flu. We decided that he would take our sons with him (mostly because I knew that he would have to make frequent stops if they were along). When they arrived in Chicago, my parents planned to take the boys to Indiana to stay with them.
I was fine until Christmas Eve. Then the loneliness engulfed my. My friends were all busy with their extended family gatherings. My extended family lived far away. My daughters were sleeping the holidays away, too sick to care if they had gifts or not. I was feeling underprivileged and deprived as I stood at my kitchen counter eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
The telephone rang. My friend, Linda, inquired about my plans for the evening. I admitted that I did not have much planned except a shower and bed. She told me to get my purse and coat ready. Lester, her husband, was already on the way over to pick up my girls and me. We were invited to her home for the evening. I protested that the girls were sick. She pointed out that they could sleep at her house as well as mine.
When Lester arrived, we wrapped the girls in blankets and carried them out to the car. The trip to their home was short so the girls slept through the journey and were soon cozily asleep in bed. We spent the evening quietly, playing board games, eating tacos, and singing along with Handel’s Messiah. It was a lovely peaceful evening. Just after midnight, Lester drove us home.
On Christmas Eve our family has tacos as a remembrance of that Christmas Eve spent with loving, compassionate friends. Of all of my friends, they were the ones who saw my need and acted. It was an action made more remarkable because they were Jehovah’s Witnesses, who do not believe in observance of holidays… not even Christmas.
A miracle.
Anny
PS: I've lost touch with Linda and Lester and can't locate them. Linda B., on the way off chance you read this, drop me a note at anny@annycook.com !
Do you want to win some fantastic holiday reading? If so come celebrate the Twelve days of Romance with 12 authors from Ellora's Cave, Wild Rose Press, Total-E-Bound and Cerridwen Press. Each day beginning December 8th and running through December 19th one of the twelve authors will tell what their "True love gave to them" on either their blog or website.Collect all twelve answers and e-mail them to anny@annycook.com with 12 days of Romance in the subject line to win some great books.
There will be three lucky winners.
The prizes –1st prize--6 books
3rd prize--2 books
All books and prize winners will be drawn randomly.
Tune in on December the 6th for complete details!
Anny Cook Winter Hearts
Sandra Cox Boji Stones
Bronwyn Green Ronan’s Grail
Heather Hiestand Cards Never Lie
Barbara Huffert Deal of a Lifetime
Amarinda Jones Mad About Mirabelle
Kelly Kirch Time for Love
Cindy Spencer Pape Cowboy’s Christmas Bride
Brynn Paulin Fallen
Jacquéline Roth Access Denied
KZ Snow Mrs. Claws
Lacey Thorn Earth Moves
Don't forget to stop by Kelly's blog at http://www.kkirch.blogspot.com/ for an interview with author S. L. Carpenter. And then pop over to Amarinda's blog at http://www.amarindajones.blogspot.com/ for her take on the Saga. Blessings on your day!
It always means so much when friends see just when you need and when. You seem to have been blessed with more than your share of angels in life, Anny.
ReplyDeleteAnd tacos for Christmas eve sounds like a fine idea to me :)
Are you sure you weren't on The Waltons? You fascinate me ZQ
ReplyDeleteWe don't have any particular traditions for Christmas Eve, other than attending church, but my Mom used to put Ding-Dongs in our stockings so we could 'eat breakfast'. Now, thirty years later, it just doesn't seem like Christmas w/o that Ding-Dong in the sock...my hubby thought I was nuts until my sis backed me up!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things to say about the Ding Dong, but I promise not to go there. You set it up for a joke so nicely though. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI'm one for sentimentality and tradition. I love that you immortalized the tacos with a new tradition. It shows your gratitude yearly while nonverbally expressing that the holidays are about the memories, the people. Not the food or the presents. Sniff. I love you, man!
I have a new tradition - I break out the tissues when I read Anny's blog. I really hope you're able to reconnect with Lester and Linda again. That is such a beautiful story.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have such friends when you needed them. That they went beyond their own beliefs makes them that much more dear. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story, Anny. Such wonderful friends are indeed a blessing.
ReplyDelete