I remember when…
In my memories of childhood and Christmas,
The holidays in Alliance were so amazing full of magic, hope and Joy.
The biggest thing happening always came the day after Thanksgiving.
With the official lighting of the Christmas lights.
The year we got the big beautiful stars, with the gold swirls of
lights, everyone was so in awe, and so very anxious to see them at night. I
think every child in town thought they were magical.
Santa had already been picked up on the firetruck, at the depot
from off the front of the Burlington Northern engine.
He would lead the way to the city auditorium where he would listen to every child,
and a few times my mother, sharing their wants and dreams for Christmas
morning. The Boy Scouts would hand out big sacks of candy and peanuts. The line
was long, but oh so worth it. Loved those hard candies, and if you were
lucky, maybe you got a ribbon candy or two…those were the best!
If we were very good, we got to splurge and eat at Hesteds
lunch counter. Wow what a treat. Then the big moment came….the lights were
turned on…and we all were so amazed. We all shared that moment together standing
on the sidewalk..looking up. In awe of the beauty of the lights…Christmas magic
and the feeling of us all being one.
Then to end the night, we would ride around town looking at everyone’s houses decorated,
and to end a perfect night, a drive past the sunken gardens where Santa was sitting on the tops of
the pillars, lit up for us to see, then of course around the block to the band shell
to see the nativity set there, with that beautiful angel watching over.
Yes, I remember when..