My father used to tell us he got coal in his stocking one Christmas when he was a kid. We believed it. Ended up being a Marine fighter pilot- carriers et al. Brought us to church every Sunday. Very successful businessman.
I love stories others remember of their childhood.
I’m the youngest of 8 so I have so many memories that I probably forgot many of the best ones.
One my best memories was of my sister Angie. She was a great skater. I used to watch her skate on the ice all the time. Me? I had weak ankles and skated more on the side of the skates. LOL
We, one year she wanted new skates real bad. I was like seven I think. Well on Christmas she got a HUGE box. In it was a box, after box, after box. Until she ended up with a tiny little box you put jewelry in. In it was a necklace with a pair of skates.
When she opened is she was bit disappointed. Mind you we were very poor, so Christmas was not filled with extravagant gifts. being the youngest, I usually got hand-me-down toys that used to belong to my older brothers. I was grateful, because I was jealous they had toys for older boys. Heck, I knew no better.
Anyway, you could tell she was disappointed, but then my mom tapped her on the shoulder, and when she turned around my Mom handed her a brand new pair if ice skates. She was so overwhelmed from the disappointment turnd to joy that she burst out in happiness with tears all last the same time.
I remembered the first years of my life my Christmas gifts were all signed “from Santa Claus”, not “from Mom and Dad” :)