The Ghosts of Christmas Past

And so it is only just over a week and a bit to Christmas. Our last "homework" for our writer's group was to write a memory from Christmas.  And this is what came to me..... I thought I would share it with you.

Christmas comes but once a year
It brings with it joys and tears

As I go through the motions of gift buying, decorations and planning menus..... 

 

Please click on "read more" to read "The Ghosts Of Christmas Past" ....

The Ghosts of Christmas Past

 

Christmas only comes but once a year

It brings with it joys and tears

As I go through the motions of gift buying, decorations

And planning menus
I am thinking of those who will be missing from my table  for the first time this year

They are the ghosts of Christmas past

 My father hanging Christmas lights in the pine trees at our front gate

The carol singers under our corner street light

I lay in bed wondering how Father Christmas could possibly come down

our kitchen chimney and through the little doors at the front of our Metters Stove.
But he did – because the carrots and cake were gone in the morning.

The excitement of seeing my new big doll Lucy under the Christmas tree

My mother dishing up the Christmas pudding with the threepences hidden inside
Her Christmas carols that filled the house.

The long Christmas table at my Aunts
With aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents
And silly hats

 Summer heat and laughter,
Playing under the sprinkler on the back lawn,
And laying on the cool passage lino with a new book

The simple pleasure of humid summer evenings on the back lawn
     looking up at the stars.

As I hang the special Christmas baubles on my tree

And light the candle of remembrance
I look into the eyes of my grandchildren
And I see the ghosts of Christmas past

 Jill Harrison

2 December 2014

These special glass baubles came from a Christmas tree at a memorial service I went to last week with my friend, for people who had lost someone this year. The one on the left is the one for my Dad this year. The one of the left is for my Mum two years ago.

The family photo above was taken in 1961 when I was six with some of my aunts, uncles, cousins... I am in the front row with my cousin David who is closest to me in age. That is my Mum on the right front, my Dad in the suit at the back right with my sister in front of him.

Below is my my sister and me ready to go to my grown-up cousin's wedding. That's me in front - do you like my frilly dress and the curls? I don't have curls naturally. I remember going to bed with curlers in my hair.  The middle photo is of me playing "dress-ups" with my big doll Lucy (mentioned in the poem above). And the last one is in 1959 when I was four. I can distinctly remember this. I didn't want to sit on this man's knee. I don't know if you can tell I am trying to pull my hand away. 
 

This is the house where I grew up.  The first image would possibly be in the early 1950s not long after they moved in. You can see the pine trees by the front gate are very small. They grew huge, and Dad used to string Christmas lights on them. You can also see our chimney that Father Christmas had to come down! Our house was on a corner, where there was a street light. Every Christmas the Salvation Army would go around our area singing Christmas Carols and they always stopped under our street light and sang a few carols. It was so lovely. 

The second photo is in the early 1970s just before we moved house. Dad had the pine trees cut down at some stage. I guess they got way too big. 

Last weekend we went to Lava Glass on the waterfront in Bunbury. They make and sell beautiful glass artwork from various Western Australian glass artists. You can have your hands imprinted in silica sand into which glass is melted to create a piece of wall art as a lasting memento of a moment in time.  It was our son and daughter-in-laws tenth wedding anniversary in September and we bought this for them as a gift. They are creating their own memories. I will write about Lava Art Glass Studio and Gallery in a future post.  In the meantime you can find out more about them by clicking here - Lava Art Glass

What are your special memories of Christmas past? Perhaps you would like to tell us about them in your comments.

How devastating today to hear about the deaths of two innocent people in Sydney by the hand of a terrorist in a hostage situation. I cry and pray for them and their families. And for the three children who will be without their mother this Christmas.

I found this beautiful song from Enya today to share with you. It's a reminder for me, especially this year....

The Spirit of Christmas Past.....

When tears are in your eyes, it's time to look inside, your heart can find another way

Believe in what I say, don't throw this time away,

Tomorrow will be Christmas Day, Christmas Day

So, let the shadows go, and drift away like snow,
Tomorrow will be Christmas Day, tomorrow will be Christmas Day

So dream until the night becomes the morning light

Tomorrow will be Christmas Day, tomorrow will be Christmas Day.

You can hear the music track by clicking here (skip the advert) -   The Spirit of Christmas Past

Thanks for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. Have a wonderful week.

I am linking up to Mosaic Monday, Our World Tuesday, Wednesday Around the World,  and What's It Wednesday.  Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
Our World Tuesday
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
What's It Wednesday