Christmas Memories: \u00a0<\/b>So it is now 1954, and Dad takes me with him to visit the wholesale toy warehouses from which he bought.\u00a0 I was (generally) well-behaved, and after walking around the display room, the salesman said, “Go pick out anything you see that you like!”\u00a0 Wow, in a toy warehouse.\u00a0 I looked at Dad and said, “Did he say ANYTHING?”\u00a0 Dad said.\u00a0 “Yes, he did!”<\/p>\n
So I walked around this 30-foot-long table loaded with toys, studying each one very carefully.\u00a0 \u00a0Dad said to me, “Hurry up, son, we have other places to visit today!”<\/p>\n
OK, I made my decision!\u00a0 I bent over and pointed to a massive coil of rope under the display table (used by the trucks to tie down their cargo)!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/wp-content\/dailydiary\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-04-011.png\")
<\/p>\n
Dad could not believe I chose a rope over a new Red Ryder Wagon, a Davey Crockett Coonskin Cap, a Chemistry set, and other goodies.<\/p>\n
NO!\u00a0 Not Me!\u00a0 I wanted the rope!\u00a0 Dad tried his best to talk me out of my selection, but to no avail.\u00a0 The rope came home with us, and I played with that rope until there was nothing left.\u00a0 I made elevators that took me to the top of our trees, I made Tarzan swinging vines over LaBalona Creek, I created the world’s first “zip-line” over Comey Avenue, and a thousand other things only the mind of a child could think up!<\/p>\n
Dad told that story over and over for years!<\/p>\n
SO, THE MORAL TO THE STORY:\u00a0 If you want to give me a Christmas present, pick up a coil of rope and I will be as happy as a clam!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
OK, it is 7:30 am, and we are up and running!\u00a0 We had our cup of coffee and planned the day, which I thought would be relaxing.\u00a0 Nope, it’s a typical day for us; running from here to there!<\/p>\n
First was the CPAP Technician, who was dropping by for the second time to explain why the CPAP system wasn’t working.\u00a0 When I entered the hospital, Mary brought my trusty CPAP machine, but the doctors wanted me to have oxygen at the same time.\u00a0 The respiratory technician at the hospital did something, because since then the machine works fine for 10 minutes, then turns on the afterburners!\u00a0 It blows so hard my ears pop, and my toupee lifts about 2″ off the top of my head.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/wp-content\/dailydiary\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-04-007.jpg\")
It all started several years ago!<\/p><\/div>\n
After the visit, we headed off for Girls Night Out at the Elks, where we bought tickets for the New Year’s Gala.\u00a0 We purchased nine tickets for us, the Dudas, the Adams, the Kuhns, and Gail.\u00a0 We set up for a table of 16; the others will call in their orders.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/wp-content\/dailydiary\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-04-005.jpg\")
Just us showing off our musical hats.<\/p><\/div>\n
We had a super meeting of the minds, even though we had to depart a little early for the doctor’s appointment.\u00a0 We got New Year’s Eve figured out.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/wp-content\/dailydiary\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-04-006.jpg\")
The gang was all here.<\/p><\/div>\n
The Elks watched over the entrance way.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/wp-content\/dailydiary\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-04-007-1.jpg\")
The Lorateddge was deco.<\/p><\/div>\n
The staff loved our musical hats and wanted to capture the moment.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/wp-content\/dailydiary\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-04-008-1.jpg\")
The Lodge had a large tree.<\/p><\/div>\n
From there to the doctor’s office to have him check up on my ablation surgery results.\u00a0 Duh, if I walked in on my own power, that should be good enough.\u00a0 We got good news, the old ticker had zero afib, so I am officially off the medication.\u00a0 In two weeks, we will return to the office and see Dr. Cobb to verify the afib is gon!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/wp-content\/dailydiary\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-04-008.jpg\")
I should have worn my hearing aids!<\/p><\/div>\n
We headed home to decorate the house, and Mary had some last-minute work to do with Robin’s birthday present.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/wp-content\/dailydiary\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-04-009.jpg\")
Work work work!<\/p><\/div>\n
Robin was due in at 4:30 pm, and we decided to go to Yang Ming’s Chinese Restaurant since the food is excellent, the service is superior, and it is only a mile from the house.<\/p>\n
We had a wonderful dinner and went home to watch a Christmas movie entitled “Capnip Cafe”.\u00a0 Going inside, I snapped a quick shot of Jeff’s house to send to him.\u00a0 Our handyman put up his lights and turned them on at the right time.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/wp-content\/dailydiary\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-12-04-011.jpg\")
Ladies In Waiting?<\/p><\/div>\n
We crashed around 10:00 pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For the rest of the year, I plan to revisit old Christmas memories (The Ghost of Christmas Past?)\u00a0 Please laugh and giggle along with me as I navigate my misadventures on the way to adulthood (some people are not sure … Continue reading