There is something special about Christmas Eve 1977 that I can’t quite put my finger on. Somehow it epitomized my entire existence in the 70’s on Echo Hill Lane. It is fondly remembered as one of the greatest Christmases of my life, although I can scarcely remember any particulars of the evening. Yet still I can perfectly visualize sitting on our green couch in front of the roaring fire, A Very Mancini Christmas album playing on the reel-to-reel tape, with family surrounding me as we spent our very last holiday season in this house.
As usual, we began the Christmas celebrating with our traditional visit to Eagles for the kids party. This was probably Denise’s first encounter with Santa. I received a soccer ball as my generic kids’ gift. At some point in December we also had a ‘Breakfast with Santa’ event that we attended. I’m thinking that it was something we learned about through school, although not a school function. I believe Diana’s kids also attended – Lori for sure, as the photo indicates.
Most likely Denise’s first encounter with Santa Claus
It is the same rousing success as most first encounters
“Jimmy Ferrenberg said that you weren’t real”
The tree goes up and gets surrounded with the initial loot
Mom and Denise pose under the tree
I must have had a little crush on my babysitter Laura Schaeffer (older sister the Schaeffer brothers, Bob and Joe) as I snapped this shot of her in front of the tree
A classic pre-Christmas pose of Denise under the tree
I had a special surprise come Christmas Eve morning. While eating breakfast with Mom and Dad, I heard a cat meowing that sounded like it was coming from the garage. Having just lost my cat Charcoal not long before, I was intrigued to go find this cat and give it some attention. My Dad warned me that they had one of my Christmas presents stored out there and if I went out I would see it. Somehow what he had said escaped me, and I insisted that I go outside and see this cat. When I went into the garage, I found a tiny grey kitten meowing by the door. I looked at Dad, and he said “That’s your Christmas present.”
We had the standard gathering of Dad’s family on the evening of Christmas Eve. This was the second time that our family had hosted after receiving the reigns from Arline and Carl. Grandma Range, Bill & Dottie and Lora and Robby, Arline & Carl, and Harold were there for the festivities. I was always excited for Robby’s arrival so that I would have a playmate for the evening who would keep me pre-occupied as the excitement mounted to open up my gifts. Perhaps it was the gifts that stick out in my mind and make this such a memorable Christmas. I vividly recall the magic set that I got that night and trying to perfect some of the illusions for our guests.
We had just been to Disney World that Summer and one of my gifts was the Haunted Mansion LP record from 1969. Any association with Disney World at that time is bound to enhance the nostalgia in my memories of the evening, and although it probably only lasted all of three hours, it occupies a large chunk of warm memories in my head.
There were a surprising number of photos taken on that night. As you will see, Carl donning his nightcap and robe was a particular hit…and the flash bulbs popped away.
Dottie and Bill at our house on Christmas Eve
Harold guards the chairs
Arline and Carl
Carl dons his new nightwear…
…much to the delight of every camera in the house
Denise unwraps a new doll
Dad, Denise, and her new doll
Ah! Bert and Ernie are much more fun!
This was a delightful little shooting gallery game, where a magnetic spring-loaded pen would allow you to ‘shoot’ metal balls at various targets
Rob and I are enthralled with this toy
Denise show Arline some sort of white lump
I demonstrate something for Carl…perhaps one of my new magic tricks
The excitement nearly over for the evening, having stolen Santa’s cookies, Denise gets into her jammies and plays in Mom and Dad’s purple bedroom
Christmas Day began with our now-traditional opening of the gifts from ‘Santa Claus.’ I believe that this was my first year where I no longer believed in him courtesy of Jimmy Ferrenberg, the older brother of my friend Andrea who lived across the street. For years I helped maintain the illusion for the benefit of my sister.
Dad assists Denise on Christmas morning. Not sure why there was a sudden pajama change but I’m guessing it had to do with wetness
In my Cincinnati Bengals pajamas, I angelically display two new coins for my collection
Denise with her new Mickey Mouse doll and Mickey bean bag chair. I got a red one.
Mom puts together my race track
I don’t recall the Murphy gathering that afternoon, but the photo that I located indicates that it was held at Diana and Tom’s house in Bellbrook, and not Grandma and Grandpa’s house, which had been the standard for several years.
Denise enjoys some tea with Mickey at her new table before heading out to Diana & Tom’s house
Feet to feet with Mickey
Debby, Denise, and Susie compare their new Christmas toys at Diana and Tom’s house
I desperately wish I could relate more about this Christmas but there really is nothing left to say. It would only be if you could somehow climb into my head that I could even begin to describe how much the sweet memory of this particular year clings to the walls of my mind.
Here are some photos from the aftermath of the holiday:
Denise and I survey the loot
It looks like a toy store
I allow Dad to play with my new gift…Charcoal 2
The late 70’s will continue in 1978…
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