Stripping away the rose colored glasses of denial concerning my reality. Getting in touch with truth. Reaching out to others in empathy concerning their reality and their walk to truth.

Monday, December 22, 2014

"My Favorite Christmas Memory" Bloghop!!










Benjamin Bunny

It was a cold December that I remember. I was very young and stood on the stairs, watching my Mom. She was coming home after being in the hospital for four days! Behind her, through the door, snow was falling. It was so pretty. It was  Christmas! I really wasn't sure what Christmas was, but it didn't matter, my Mom was back. Then I noticed she was carrying something in a little pink satin bundle. Hmm? Once in a while a little hand would poke out, and she'd put it back. What did she have? Grandmother held the little bundle. Then Aunt Grace held the little bundle. Everyone was oohing and ahhing over this bundle. I had to see. (Hello, I'm only four years old - will somebody please pick me up or lower the bundle?) I wanted to have a look. Finally my Mom bent down and said, "Dixie, you have a new baby................

DOLL!! Oh my goodness... she got me a real doll for Christmas! I was so elated. I screamed and danced, ran up and down the stairs, jumped up and down, clapped my hands. I guess you could call it the, "Thank-you-Lord-happy-doll-dance!" But then Mom let me know he wasn't just for me. What?! I've got to share him? Why? He was so cute. Such a sweet smile. (And I had plans for him!)

I went and got my old doll stroller and really worked hard to convince them (Grandmother, Aunt Grace and my Mom), that I wouldn't hurt him. How could I hurt him? Look that at face!! And he had big blue eyes - just like me. Oh, what's his name? Mom said, his name is Benjamin, but we'll call him.............

BENJAMIN BUNNY!! Perfect, just like a favorite story Aunt Annette told me. What? We're calling him Benjie? Why? He doesn't look like a Benjie! Hey! Benjamin Bunny is perfect... I'm telling you. (No one listens to a four year old.)

Well the stroller ride went well, I thought. Yes, I almost dumped him twice but he giggled... so I didn't hurt him. I know I probably shouldn't have given him the candy cane. He really began to screech when Mom had to pry his tight-fisted little hand from around it... oops... yes ma'am... no more handing him anything. I promise. (Oh yes, he had a nice set of lungs. That's something that has never changed, even to this day.)

I showed him the pink flocked tree that Aunt Grace decorated. She was from New York. I figured they didn't have green trees up there. In fact she decorated Grandmother's entire beauty shop in pink, pastels, and snowy stuff. I guess they didn't have red and green Christmas stuff there either. The beauty shop looked like something from the nutcracker suite. It was lovely and the main focus of my attention, until Benjamin Bunny arrived.

They took turns taking me out in the snow. There must have been a total of three tea parties. I got to hang the star on the tree again. I don't know why they were all so concerned about me. What? I'm tired. I'm four years old. I like the baby - I'm not jealous... (and I really need a nap.)

Finally I climbed those stairs, two flights, separated by the landing. Of course I usually stopped at the stained-glass window with the window seat but...(I was dragging). Granddaddy scooped me up and placed me in the bed. That's all I remember. Christmas Eve was a blur.

Christmas morning, I got a doll but she was cold to the touch. It felt awful. Where was Benjamin Bunny? Mom laid out a blanket on the floor for me to sit on. Then she laid the pink bundle on my lap. My older brother was outside in the snow, but I didn't want to go. (Imagine that - the snow queen staying inside.) Slowly his little eyes opened and he looked right at me, and barfed. I laughed so hard, I wet myself. (I knew right then we'd be friends forever.) And that's my favorite Christmas memory!

 Thanks to Cherdo and Janie Junebug for this happy, happy blog hop!!


















26 comments:

  1. I'm surprised you, four-year-old you, didn't go for "Benjie Bunny" the rhyming should have appealed to a young 'n. Hopefully Benjamin didn't suffer the same fate as so many December birthdays and people only gave him one gift for both his birthday and Christmas.

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    1. Now days - it's "Ben"... my how time flies. I give him a Lowe's gift card for his birthday - if nothing else, he's entertained for hours! He says he's willing to accept a second card for Christmas, so he can put the two together for more spectacular toys.(smile)

      Happy Holidaze!! You're on the blog list - I'll return to see if you stopped traveling and left us a tidbit of joy.

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  2. such a delightful memory it is! I didn't know you had so many siblings :)

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    1. Two brothers but sometimes you'd never know it. I rarely see them anymore. Disabilities and such prevent diving distances, for me... so this year is very special. I'm taking the plunge!

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  3. Childhood delight! Now THOSE are wonderful memories!

    Thank you so much for sharing your story and being part of our first bloghop!

    Merry Christmas and God bless.

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    1. Cherdo - it is I who should thank you and Miss JJ. I knew immediately which one was the favorite(smile). Thanks you for your kind remarks!

      Merry Christmas - blessings to you.

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  4. A wonderful, happy memory ... happy days.

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    1. Yes, and didn't seem so long ago until I started it out. Yipes - older(smile).

      Thanks for visiting, Mike.

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  5. It doesn't get any better than Christmas bodily fluids! Awwwwwww!

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    1. I know! At the time it seemed so great. When I typed it, I thought, ooh, this might sound disturbing to some.

      I can always count on you, Debra.(smile).

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  6. Hey, now I want a Benjamin Bunny of my very own! Only I will name him GEORGE, and I will love him and hug him and...

    Nice Christmas memory, Dixie Polka!

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground

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    1. Okay - plain or barfing? (Fuel my jet!) Hey, wait - you've already got a GEORGE at your site - I was just there. Saw it all!

      Thank you. Glad you like it.

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  7. What a cute story. As an only child I didn't get to have this kind of experience. And to Pickleope, my wife's birthday is December 26th, and her entire childhood was FULL of "you get one present to just combine the two dates." So I'm sure dear Benjamin had a lot of fun with that...

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    1. Hi B&B. Let me tell you why Benjamin racked up anyway. Our Mom's birthday was exactly one week before Christmas. It was called, "financial ruin" by the end of the month(for some of us, smile).

      Thank you for the compliment and visiting me.

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  8. Awww that's such a lovely story :)
    I would have loved a 'real doll' for Christmas

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    1. Me too - and this was brand spanking new... a true training ground, if ever there was one!

      Dawna, I really enjoyed your post today!

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  9. How cool :) So many little kids don't like new babies. I had five kids, and they all adored each other, nothing but typical sibling rivalry as they grew. They are still close, as it seems you are with your brothers.

    Merry Christmas Dixie.

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  10. Thanks, Dolorah.
    And how cool was your book review and guest post author!! What an amazing bio of Ted Cross. :))
    Merry Christmas to you... enjoy!

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  11. This one's one of my favourites! Merry Christmas and say hi to your brother for me!

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    1. Hi Michael, thank you for the kind comment - I'm glad you liked it. Your music video of you and your siblings was great!! I like it much better than Lennon's (shh - smile). I will certainly tell him.

      Merry Christmas, and thank you for joining my journey. I added you to my reading list - in case more videos appear!

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  12. I have a Christmas Eve grandson!
    How sweet to get a real baby for Christmas. My parents told me for several months I would get a real baby for my birthday in March; he fooled them and showed up on April 1st.
    Thanks for stopping by.

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    1. Hi Joanne. I simply love your blog's top photo! Your Christmas memory reminded of my Mom and her family of 5 brothers and 7 sisters!! Life on a farm.

      Aw, I'm sorry he arrived a little late. Mine is Thanksgiving, so while Benjamin gets to be the gift, I'm always the turkey!!(smile)

      You're very welcome, and I thank you for visiting me. I'll visit again soon.
      Merry Christmas.

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  13. What lovely memories to share. My first visit, so thanks for stopping by my blog, and I'll be back to see you again.

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    1. Thank you, Linda. That was one amazing family photo... brought back lots of memories for me, and an Aunt who had a constant clicking camera(smile). She never seems to be in any photos either.

      You're welcome and thank you for joining my journey!

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  14. Thanks for sharing a great barfy memory. I'm glad you hopped with us. I'm even more glad than my mom never brought a baby home. I was the youngest of six. I don't know what we would have done with more kids.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Janie - it was my pleasure. I had three memories in mind - but since I'll be seeing him on Thursday, I figured to surprise him(smile).

      My Mom loss two others she couldn't carry. We could have been a sports team!

      You know, when I inherited my parents' home, the pink satin bunting was in a hall closet. I'm not sure what to do with it. Maybe a shadow box display? It's so tiny!

      Thanks for letting play!! Now I noticed a couple of others I'm missed. See you later, Janie.

      Love,
      Dix

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