CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE WALLMANS

DECEMBER 24, 2012 CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE WALLMANS From the time we lived at Massachusetts Avenue (1-31-63 to 11-30-98) We always had the greatest Christmas Eves Thanks to my mother and father As a young boy-my two sisters and I-would be surprised When the elves came The elves would always bring us pajamas and slippers My dad would sometimes be cussing I didn’t know what it was about at the time-but as I got older I came to understand that he was usually trying to put something Together ( ie. a bike for my sisters or me ) Often times-we would go to midnight Mass Except my father-who would sneak off to bed Even when we had a houseful And that is what I remember most, the “HOUSEFULS” We always had an Open House on Christmas Eve My friends-my sisters’ friends-and even some of my father’s and mother’s friends Would show up-down through the years Sometimes-some of our relatives would be there too If they were just looking to have some fun It would usually start with Rick and Patty coming after 6:00or 7:00 pm Mass And as they got older-they would show up with their children-Samantha and Tim They even came one year less than a week after Timmy was born Also showing up were Rich and Betty Ann (when they were still married) And their beautiful daughter Bridget And Ed and Debbie and their daughter-Samantha Ray and Arlene and their family And many other family and friends Most of it-was just clean fun But we did have our own version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” And “Pup” singing C is for the Christ child I will always remember Pup He died in 1979 in a motorcycle accident He always carried a “magnum” gun with him everywhere he went When he came into our house on Christmas Eve He would take them out and give them to me at the door And after my cousin, Donny, got divorced We had our own version of “Same Time-Nest Year” With him and Rooster What wonderful memories I have of “CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE WALLMANS” And when we moved in 1998-my mother wrote the following poem As we turn out the lights and Lock the door of this old house Not a creature is stirring Not even the proverbial mouse. Hush! Quiet and silence. Can you believe!!! Any day of the year, but Christmas Eve!!! Now we REALLY KNOW it’s time to go But before we do, we want you to know Through the love and the joy, the laughter & tears That you have imparted, you have enriched Our lives all these past 36 years. If these walls could talk, what tales they would tell No need, however, we remember them well. For caring and sharing and just being there Our love, thanks and warmest wishes for a Happy New Year. The Wallman Christmas 1998 Robert P. Wallman 7-09-07 Ps “For God so loved the world that he gave his ONE AND ONLY SON That whoever believes in him shall NOT PERISH but have eternal life” John 3:16 12-25-15