1. My doctor grandpa piercing my ears with ice and a long needle. Standing quiet and still like a good girl, with big crocodile tears running down my face.
2. Santa (a.k.a. my uncle) arriving at my grandparents’ house with gifts, handing me an “adoption doll”, which I promptly told him was for my sister (I already had one).
3. My sister’s hamsters “Pampers” and “Sneakers”.
4. Running after Santa after my uncle pointed at the open back door yelling, “Quick! Santa just left!” Swearing I heard jingling bells.
5. Pretending to believe in Santa far longer than I actually did (My memory: not wanting to rob my parents of the joy. However, my mother insists it’s because I knew I had a good thing going).
6. Watching my grandpa walk away. Knowing, somehow, it was the last time I would see him.
7. Dad in the attic, falling through the ceiling, breaking ribs, and cursing like a sailor.
8. My sister’s nickname “Bug eyes”, because she always noticed the strangest bugs, spiders, amphibeans, etc when we were in the woods.
9. Watching a wonderous night sky full of shooting stars with my family.
Happy holidays to all of you.
