We were driving back from worship one Christmas Eve when Mom and Dad had the brilliant idea that we should drive by a few houses and see some Christmas lights on the way home. If it had been the 22nd or 23rd of December it would have been fine with me. Even the night of the 25th of December would have been okay, for by that time I would have had my new toys sorted and ready to choose from for the long drive. But this was the night before Christmas and there was important business to attend to that couldn't wait for a joyride in the city. At least not in the mind of this seven year old boy at the Christmastime of 1967. Adding to my misery was the fact that Dad had graduated at the top of his class from the "quick start and fast brake" school of driving, and this little boy got car sick at the drop of a hat. 

It was a long drive home.

We had a tradition in my family. On Christmas Eve we got to choose one present for opening prior to the big day. It was an important decision, indeed. Open the wrong gift, and you could be stuck holding a pair of socks while your brother and sister were squealing with delight from the opening of their newest exciting toy from Mammaw or Aunt Gladys. Worse still, you could choose wrong and end up with a pair of footed pajamas. Then not only did you have to suffer from the consequences of your own unwise decision, but you would also have to go through the indignity of "just trying them on so we can see what they look like". For a little girl, I'm sure that would have been fine. But I can tell you from cruel experience that it was anything but fun for a seven year old boy. 

Just look at it from his perspective: Not only did you blow your only opportunity for an evening of toy playing bliss, but now you had to wear your mistake to bed to remind you of your poor selection. It was the kid version of Let's Make a Deal, where you could have had the new car behind door #3, but you instead chose the pen of goats that were stashed behind door #2. Come to think of it, the pen of goats would have been a superior choice to some of the blunders I have made on Christmas eves gone by.

But I did have some big scores on Christmas Eve that were quite notable. My favorite was a gift from my Aunt Gladys, who got me some old coins and a magnifying glass one year. I can still remember that magnifying glass - it was about an inch and a half in diameter and it folded up into a genuine leather case. Not only was it functional for its purpose intended by the manufacturer, it was also great for burning names and dates into all sorts of wood products and scrap lumber that one might find lying around.

Mom and Dad worked hard to make Christmas Eve special. We would have something for supper, followed by an evening of candy canes fresh off the tree and steaming mugs of hot chocolate. There were often special Christmas cartoons like "Santa Clause is Coming to Town", "Frosty the Snowman" and a brand new one - "Dr. Sues' The Grinch Who Stole Christmas". Then, after we were all sugared up and bleary-eyed from watching TV, it was off to bed to pretend to go to sleep before the big day.

Now I know that you must be thinking about now that I have forgotten the reason for the season, and I will have more to say about that in tomorrow's article. But for tonight, I just wanted to share a few of the memories that I have from growing up with parents who made Christmas Eve the best night of the year. And now? I am some 56 years past that Christmas Eve of 1967, but they just seem to be getting better for me every year. This year we are spending the evening with our seven grandchildren (not to mention the people who stay with them). It is a time of true joy for us, as I hope it is for you and your family. 

Merry Christmas!