It has been said that times may change, but people don't. I believe this to be a true statement.
Curiosity for example. Children throughout history have tried to discover where their parents have hidden Christmas presents prior to Christmas morning! Kids throughout history long for that "one" special gift...the HOT item of the season. They are drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
Such was the Christmas of 1973. North Augusta, South Carolina was like any other medium sized southern town. The churches had been filled on Christmas Eve for candle-light services; carolers could be heard singing in various neighborhoods; streets were aglow with the annual decorations, and kids were anxiously awaiting the gift feeding frenzy which would happen the following morning
White Christmas's were not something the folks of North Augusta were used to. My father however, having grown up in Pennsylvania, was accustomed to the white powder that would show up every year during the winter months. On this particular Christmas morning, he found himself looking out the window at a street filled with children wrapped in scarves, mittens and warm winter coats. He told me it reminded him of his days as a child when they would take their new Christmas sleds and race down the hills.
For here we were, 9 kids strong (me, my sister, and our neighbors the McDonald's and the Duane's), racing down and around the asphalt covered street on our new Christmas skateboards!
Yes, times may change....but the essence of human nature...curiousity, excitement, adventure, friendships, fear, laughter, love...these are the things that ground us; connect us. Be it sleds or skateboards.
No comments:
Post a Comment