- Christmas Stocking
We moved from Boston to the West Coast when I was three and a half. My father was working for ‘Monkey Wards,’ as we called it, and we lived for two years in Portland – close enough to my mother’s native Oysterville to make frequent visits to see Granny and Papa. I have several vivid memories of those years, one of which involves my Christmas stocking.
My mother must have been unpacking the Christmas things when she held up a long red stocking and handed it to me, saying, “Look what I found!”
I remember taking off my shoe and sock and putting on that long red stocking.
“Where’s the other one?” I asked.
“Why, Sydney!” my mother said, “Surely you remember your Christmas stocking?!”
I did not. And I wasn’t at all sure what a ‘Christmas stocking’ was. But I very clearly heard the incredulous sound in her voice and realized that I had done something stupid. It was my first bit of self-awareness, at least that I remember. Somehow, I had displeased my mother. I felt terrible about whatever I had done… but what exactly was it?
Years later – probably at Christmas stocking time – I recounted that memory to mom. She was astonished. And, once again, it was driven home to me that what we credit (or discredit) others with ‘doing to us’ is not necessarily how they perceive the situation. Another lesson reinforced.
My Christmas stocking is getting pretty raggedy these days, but I wouldn’t replace it for the world. It has held so many special gifts over the years, not the least of which have been those life lessons that have nothing much to do with Christmas. And, besides, who knows what this year will bring?
Ahhh, The Christmas stocking. I too have memories of trying on my stocking almost yearly since I was small. My mother knitted these beautiful stockings for all her children. She then went on over the years to knit them for all the new spouses and then all of the grandchildren. I believe she retired from making them several times but always felt obligated when ever the next addition to the family came around. Unfortunately I no longer have my stocking (apparently the ex threw it out) but I still have the memories. Merry Christmas!
Kyle, you are the second person who has told me that the ‘ex’ threw out their Christmas stocking! I definitely count saving mine (through like trauma) as one of my blessings. I lost other stuff, though, like all my high school yearbooks. You are right about still having the memories — but when those grow dim, the keepsakes help. Have a Merry Merry and a Happy Happy, too.
Before my in-laws moved from the home where they raised seven boys, each year a parade of red stockings were hung by the chimney with care with everyone’s name on them. Of course we had stockings at our house for ourselves and the children, but when they moved to smaller quarters my in-laws gave each family the stockings Grandma Dottie had made. My husband’s is 59 years old. My mother-in-law put so much love into all the things she made us over the years that those stockings are real treasures!