CHRISTMAS AT THE O'BRIENS ( MY GRANDPARENTS) IN 1949

MY MOM WAS FIVE AND HER NEXT OLDEST SISTER WAS SEVEN. THEY WERE THE ONLY TWO GIRLS STILL AT HOME. THE OTHER FOUR GIRLS WERE MARRIED AND HAD FAMILIES OF THEIR OWN. THE CHRISTMAS BEFORE (1948) MY MOM AND HER SISTER EACH GOT A BURPIE BABIE FROM SANTA. WHEN CHRISTMAS 1949 CAME AROUND MY GRANDPARENTS WERE REALLY STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY. FOR CHRISTMAS THAT YEAR MY GRANDMOTHER SET BOTH OF THEIR DOLLS UNDER THE CHIRSTMAS TREE. MY MOM LOVED FRUIT AND JACKIE LOVED CANDY. IT WAS EXPENSIVE SO THEY DIDN'T GET FRUIT OR CANDY OFTEN. SHE PUT AN ORANGE IN THE LAP OF MY MOM'S DOLL, AND A CHOCOLATE BAR IN THE LAP OF JACKIE'S DOLL. CHRISTMAS MORNING THEY CAME RUNNING OUT TO SEE WHAT SANTA HAD BROUGHT THEM. THEY SAW THEIR DOLLS, ONE WITH AN ORANGE, AND THE OTHER WITH A CHOCOLATE BAR AND THEY WERE SO EXCITED. MY MOM TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER BECAUSE ALL OF THE SISTERS WERE THERE FOR CHRISTMAS. MY MOM SAID THAT HER MOTHER AND FATHER FELT BAD ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THE GIRLS SOMETHING ELSE. I THINK I'VE TOLD MY GIRLS THIS STORY A HUNDRED TIMES. THEY GET SO TIRED OF HEARING IT, BUT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. MY MOM SAVORED EVERY BITE OF HER ORANGE AND JACKIE ATE A LITTLE PIECE OF HER CHOCOLATE EVERY DAY UNTIL IT WAS GONE. I NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE BEST GIFTS I'M GETTING THIS YEAR ARE MY GIRLS. I WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHIRSTMAS.