Packing Up Christmas Brings Back Memories

Sat., Dec. 23, 2000

Kerri Thoreson Special To Hand

A month ago our last born, in a case of reverse migration, packed all of the worldly possessions which would fit into her compact car, and headed for California to start a new job. For the first time in her 24 years, Sarah won’t be home with family for Christmas.

As I packed a box with Christmas gifts, I knew I just had to include the traditional caramel sandbakkels that she always looked forward to at the holidays and the baking began. Then I added a string of Christmas lights and decorations for a tree, in the event that she and her roommates there in the sunshine a few blocks from the ocean may decide to put one up.

All weekend long, the large box began to fill with mementos here and there; a pine cone we’d picked up on a walk in Q’emiln Park a few years ago, now sprinkled with glitter; a plastic Santa pin whose nose lights up that I’ve had since she was a little girl; more cookies and candy and photos.

On Monday morning when I placed the heavy box on the postal store counter, the clerk inquired about the contents with her pen poised above the UPS form.

Christmas, I answered, it’s a box full of Christmas for my daughter.

Jim Hammond grew up in Montana, his wife Cyndie in Wisconsin. When they married, Cyndie brought a young son, and Jim, two young sons to the union.

Jim says that their holiday tradition of going out to cut a tree and then decorating it with ornaments which have significance to each family member is an integral part of joining the families. The Hammonds also celebrate by opening gifts whenever the whole family can be together, sometimes even into January.

Jim claims Christmas dinner just wouldn’t be the same without his special shrimp cocktail, served with Ritz crackers. Cyndie’s Polish ancestry is where the recipe for her famous ammonia cookies originates.

She buys ammonia from the pharmacy and it acts as a leavening agent in the dough. Her antique cookie cutters complete the most unique holiday tradition I’ve heard but have yet to sample.

Single parent Chris Pappas and her now-grown daughter, Tina, spent many Christmases as a twosome so their holiday fare was somewhat spontaneous and eclectic. Chris said that one year after Tina had moved away, she was going to forgo putting up a tree. Her city hall co-workers were so concerned, they gifted her with all sorts of Christmas trees; ceramic, wood and glass. Seems they just couldn’t bear the thought of a treeless friend or home. Since that time the Christmas tree has taken on a special significance for her.

Jeannie Peugh’s two sons, Jeff and Brad, are now married with children but they know that their mother still hangs their stockings with care where, come Christmas morning they’re filled with treats.

Jeannie said that she keeps the tradition of stockings for her sons, daughters-in-law and now six grandchildren as a special part of the holiday. For years she sent her parents in Kansas filled-to-the-brim stockings, which they would return before the next Christmas to be filled once again.

Do you think Mrs. Peugh has a direct line to the North Pole?

As I visited with friends about their holiday traditions I realized that as different as many are, the common thread is home, family and love. The spirit of Christmas lives in all of our hearts. Believe.

Rocky and Mary Watson are spending time with family in Alaska for the holidays. Rocky mused that they would be in the Land of the Midnight Sun on Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year. He asked Mary if he could just stay home, blindfolded in a dark closet, and get the same effect.

Coeur d’Alene City Councilman Chris Copstead admitted his bias towards selecting Ben Wolfinger for the council appointment. Finally Chris will have a fellow councilman who’s even shorter than he. Ben, who’s replacing the petite Nancy Sue Wallace, says that the advantage for Adelphia in their broadcasting of council meetings is that they won’t need to adjust the camera or microphone angle once he’s on board.

Now we’ll just need to check the height of councilman and soon-to-be-mayor Clay Larkin to see if size will matter here in the River City come January.

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