Merry Christmas Story
By Brenda S. Brown
Imagination is a wonderful thing and Brother David and I were
raised in an environment that encouraged us to use these gifts during our
playtimes. Our parents and Scott grandparents found ways to keep us interested
in reading, learning, creative playing and what I fondly remember as building
castles in the air; I know this does not sound like a Christmas story, but it
is, I promise.
Nanny had a magical spot in her side-yard; a place filled with
fantasy where we played undisturbed for hours, pretending all sorts of wonderful
scenarios. As a place of wonder, a true living object, at the crossroads of
Warner Road and Scott's Store Road, it is where we played imaginary games and
discovered extraordinary things.
In the spring, the castle was a giant green umbrella that
sheltered us from an unexpected shower of rain, and also where we discovered
beautiful rainbows when the precipitation dripped from the canopy. I distinctly
remember the beautiful pink flowers and curious long beans that appeared each
year. The flowers floated in the air like crimson helicopters and littered the
surrounding lawn with dramatic color. We planted dozens of those peculiar beans
in the soft sand in the adjoining ditch, thinking they would grow a Jack in the
Beanstalk plant that we could climb into the storybook heaven.
During the summer months, the magic castle is where we climbed
out on a strong limb, we each had our favorite one, and watched the world go by;
we believed that we were hidden by the strange shaped green branches, and
enjoyed the gentle breezes that come along frequently. From the high perches I
dreamed of faraway places and floated on imaginary fluffy clouds. In the
autumn, it became a giant yellow balloon with weeping branches that covered the
adjacent area.
During the winter, our magic castle evolved into Santa's workshop
when we peered through a make believe window trying to imagine what wonders St.
Nick and his elves were crafting for our personal enjoyment. Under our
creatively decorated Christmas tree in Richland were always great surprises. Of
course David was apprehensive about receiving a bag of coal because he was
sometimes involved in unfortunate incidents that greatly reduced his chances of
receiving pleasant surprises. Somehow though, he always received a last minute
reprieve from Santa, as well it should be with active and precocious children.
That gigantic Mimosa tree, which thrived for countless time there
at the crossroads in Terrell County, has been gone for years, but the memories
of those days linger; how fortunate we were to experience unconditional love
that began during our childhood years. And back in Richland, we decorated a
beautiful tree and enjoyed a traditional Christmas Eve and morning filled with
memorable traditions.
So, from the Brown family in Baldwin County, to our family and
friends all over the country, we wish you a holiday filled with love, peace and
joy; Merry Christmas to you, and Happy Birthday to Jesus, my Lord and Savior.
Click here to return to Brenda S. Brown main page.