It’s the night before Christmas.
Reindeer Radio and Christmas greetings are at their peak.
My 66th Christmas.
I don’t remember the first five, but the past 61 are vivid.
Christmas songs, programs, church services and gifts are safely tucked away in my memory vault.
Let’s reminisce.
Favorite Christmas TV program: A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Favorite Christmas Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life.
Favorite Christmas Spiritual Hymn: A tie between “Mary Did You Know” by Kenny Rogers and “Do You Hear What I Here?” by Bing Crosby.
Favorite Christmas Secular Song: A tie between “First Snowfall/Let it Snow” by the Carpenters and “The Christmas Song” by Al Jarreau.
Most memorable Christmas public performance: My first-grade holiday program at the Malcolm, NE public schools. It was December 1965 and I bounced back from a rough case of the flu to sing my heart out.
Most frightening Experience: December 1968. Following my fourth-grade Christmas program at the Valparaiso Elementary School, we got caught in a blizzard on our five-mile trek to the farm. It took 45 minutes to travel those 26,400 feet.
Most memorable Christmas Eve church service: St. John’s Lutheran Church in Alliance in 1991. Cynthia sang “Away in a Manger” and accompanied herself on the flute. Afterwords, I told her what a great job she did. It was the first time I talked to my future bride. 17 days later, we went on our first date.
Favorite Radio Memory: Paul Harvey’s “The Man and the Birds” which aired every Christmas Eve.
Favorite Christmas Gifts: All of my gifts from my parents in 1972 were related to the Nebraska football team’s 1970 and 1971 national titles. I still have all of those presents in my memorabilia boxes.
Favorite Christmas Food: My mother’s homemade coffee cake. She only made it once a year and we enjoyed it each Christmas morning.
Favorite Childhood Christmas Emotion: The incredible anticipation.
Young Adult Memory: Between the ages of 18 and 31, I was always glad when Christmas was over. Being single at Christmas was no fun. Like Charlie Brown, I felt I was supposed to be happy . . . I wasn’t.
Middle-aged Adult Memory: Just like my dad, I was excited to see the reaction of my children when they opened their gifts.
Aging man Memory: I love being a “Santa.” It is far more enjoyable to give than to receive.
Most Grateful: I’m always thankful that I am still around as each Christmas comes and goes.