TALES FROM THE BAYOU: Gifts To Remember

 

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As we move closer to Christmas Day and edging toward the end of the year, I’m thinking back to my childhood and some of the Christmas gifts that made a lasting  impression on my young mind.

 

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The earliest Christmas gift I remember was when I was about three or four years old. Santa brought me a large plastic frog attached to a long yellow tube with a bulb at the end of it. If you squeezed the bulb, air was forced through the tube and the frog jumped. I loved that frog, thought it was the coolest toy ever, and spent many hours playing with it.

 

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When I was about 5 or 6 years old, I received a baby doll I named Billy. With movable arms and legs,  I loved on him for many years. I remember the time a dog got ahold of Billy and he ended up with one less leg than he arrived with. Not to be undone, I simply tore off his other leg and let him move around by bouncing on his butt. Long after I grew up and moved, Billy was stored away, just waiting for me to return. When my parents died and I became the executor of the estate, I uncovered my old friend tucked away in a box upstairs in the attic and took him back with me to Dallas. Unfortunately, Billy wasn’t able to travel with me when I later moved to Tennessee and I hope he found a new forever home where a child would love him as much as I did.

 

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But my favorite Christmas present from my childhood was the year my sister and I received matching blue bicycles. I was about 9 years old and all we wanted to do was be able to sail down the road on those things. We ended up crashing them and bending the frames on our very first solo rides, but THAT is the topic of another story. Simple to say that bike allowed me a greater sense of freedom than walking ever would, and my favorite destination, of course, was our local library.

I’m not a child any more and I’ve seen a lot of Christmases, but I still get excited with unwrapping each gift which comes my way. It never matters what is inside each package. The monetary value means nothing to me. It’s the thought the giver put into each gift that touches my heart more than words can say. It’s probably why I put my heart and soul into each story I write…to share a little magic I found during this time of the year, whenever I can…

 

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If you’re short on time, just remember books make great #stockingstuffers! My books are available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers. #StoryCatcherPublishing #books #christmas

 

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Best selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest chapter book series is called HISTORY’S MYSTERIES. Book One, Ship of Dreams, is available in eBook and print form from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other online retailers. Also, coming to the Titanic Museums in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Book Two, A Chocolate Train Wreck, was released in November.

Donna L

Hybrid award winning author; aspiring sketch artist; and 4th Degree Senior Certified Taekwondo Instructor. Host of BOOK NOOK REVIEWS. Member of SCBWI. Mom to fabulous son and adventurer delving into the tricky world of indie-publishing.

4 thoughts on “TALES FROM THE BAYOU: Gifts To Remember

    • December 16, 2019 at 4:46 pm
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      Hi and welcome to the SCP blog! I’m glad you enjoyed today’s post. These posts are meant to inspire, educate, or entertain the people who choose to pay us a visit. Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Reply
  • December 16, 2019 at 4:32 pm
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    Any present we got was appreciated, but a few stand out. One Christmas we all got measles. I was first and Grandma gave me a set of coloring cards. They had the story of Little Red Riding Hood on one side and Snow White on the other. After coloring them, one could wipe the cards and color them again. One Christmas my Godfather took me shopping at the local department store that opened on Christmas day just for me. I was given several pieces of clothing and shoes. The Troll House (tree stump) was a favorite for both of us. One of my favorite gifts actually came from you, Donna. And I got it every year. It was a well worn copy of Christmas song lyrics that you pulled out and gave to me so we could sing them to each other. THAT was always fun.

    Reply
    • December 16, 2019 at 4:50 pm
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      I loved, loved, LOVED that Troll House! And I loved singing carols with you back then. And let’s not forget the gifts of an apple, orange, and some nuts in our stockings from Mother. Loved getting those every year. And how about the MASSIVE peppermint stick Mother got me one Christmas? Took me forever to eat that thing…lol…

      Ahhhh, what great holiday memories. Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Reply

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