On This Day Dec 24 Part I

23rd	24th - Part I	24th II
1946	Nuns at hospital put me in cradle under big tree in the Chapel and I was the baby in the Nativity scene and, apparently, I never cried [ed - this may have been earlier in the month, as I doubt I was in the hospital for 3 weeks].
1957	I got the coolest gift ever - a typewriter. [ed. - I used it for 30 years until I finally shifted to computers].
1958	Got a Chemistry set and from photo it looks as Angi got a doll that wets itself. Card from Bochs (Little League coach).
1959	Kincy and I exchanged gifts. Midnight Mass and opened gifts. I got a hand drill, saws, plane, 2 screw drivers and a chisel [ed - 2022 and I still have the level and chisel].
1963	Dad gave Mom a red 1960 Bonneville convertible.
1966	It was dead at work - $5 bonus from Mr Gillette. Home at 11:30PM and we opened presents. The perfect Malley gift, a file storage/drawers box.
1969	Hawaii: Details in Peace Corps Journal.
1971	Gail and I went to Dad's apartment - still the same, selling apartment buildings and complaining about his ear. Gave him the big masi and we put it up on his wall. Picked up her Grandmother at the home for a meal at Towns. Joyce's chow mein (for Christmas?). Went to Leroy's for half an hour. A guy was playing a banjo. Went to midnight Mass with Gail at Christ the King.	at Dad's
1972	Dropped off Whites' gifts at 4:30PM, then we went up to Kacimaiwai's in the evening for drinks with Haysons and Netani. We ate around 11PM.
1973	Paul Mitchell called. Kathy and Mike came at 6PM [ed. - for the 1st of our Christmas eve tradition]. Harvey Wallbangers while playing billiards/snooker. Had a snack and a dry Corbans Sylvaner Riesling. Opened gifts: I got a bar set [ed. still have it in 2022], paint brushes, blue underwear and a book on Yoga. I gave Gail a plastic piggy bank named Boobie's Belcher [ed. - each time I burp I have to put 1¢ in].
1974	Sanders over around 7PM. Couple drinks and then a meal (Aspen Ridge Pinotage) and gifts (tape Pt 1) - gave me a gift coupon for an album. and Gail a gold chain necklace.
1975	Taped WDGY and heard Paul Oberg win a prize (tape). Went to Jim and Pat's. They gave me two models. Back to Mom's. Had a walleye for supper with a '72 Hans Christof Liebfraumilch. I gave Angi and Chris cameras. I was given humorous monster models that move [ed. - they were brilliant. I don't have a photo of them and can't find them on the Net. Sold them in 1979]. Gave mom and Bob the poker table.
1976	Lu and Lucy visited in morning. Mrs Dent brought over plum preserves. Sanders over in the evening.
1977	Aldies and Sanders arrived at 4PM. Several rounds of drinks while opening gifts. Trish and Doug left at 5PM. After a meal, with a very good Ormond Chandos.
1978	Su - Sanders came over at 4:30PM. Couple beers with Mike and a game of jarts. Meal and gift opening.
1979	M -To Sanders for a change. After a meal we exchanged gifts.
1980	W - Cousin Steve called from airport. MGM Liquors to buy a claret and a case of Hauenstein for Dick (there was a cop on duty at the store). Brought Chris to Mom's for a lunch with a Austrian Morandell Magic Flute (white). Mom gave me an immersion heater, a light blue sweater and a drill. Chris gave us a honey pot. Dad's (first time to Coon Rapids house). Met Lavonne, and her daughters Rhonda and Jennifer. Also there were friends Ted, Myrtle and Leroy. Great stories about the "old days". Real nice house and nice people. Had a great time. Home to open our gifts.
1982	F - Dad and Lavonne came at 2PM. He bought a Blue and White cab yesterday. Dad asked if we had any photos of our fishing trip. When I came up with the slides, there was my new 40"x40" screen. Dick and Joyce came at 3PM with fruit, coffee, cheese, wine, ham and turkey. Dad gave us $200 and I gave one of the bills to Dick. Had strawberry daquiris while looking at slides. Gave dad a brandy and since he always filled to the top I explained why he should leave room for a bouquet. Had a buffet meal and then opened gifts.
1983	Sa - Went to Chris' at 6PM. -27°F so Dad and I left our cars running for the 3 hours we were there. Dad told a great story of how he ended up with 5 cartons of booze in his taxi trunk without knowing it (read about it). We had eats with a very good Sutter Home '80 Zinfadel.
1984	M - Dad, Lavonne, Chris and MaryAnn came at 7PM for a shrimp creole meal. Dad had an apple "wine" made by his friend. I served an extremely dry Heitz Berbera. Gave Chris his "mid-life" crisis kit for his 30th. Kids put on a "jingle bells" concert. Gifts: From Chris/M a Trivial Pursuit game for me and Gail. Gave Dad a TV for his cab. We brought the 4' pool table into the rec room and everyone played until they left at 11PM.	meal more gifts
1985	T - Aldersons - kids picked plums. Doug wasted on beer at Carmel's. They gave me a bottle of wine, a bird book to Gail and stickers for the kids. Doug loved the false teeth tongs. Tested the new wine glasses on a good Australian '83 Jacob's Creek Claret. Open gifts at midnight. I got beer mugs, umbrella and Southern Comfort. Gave Gail a Temuka Riverstone flan dish. Cricket bat for Ne, flutter boards and golf set for both. "Game of Auckland" for family.
1986	W - Sanders came at 6PM - we looked at their Vancouver video. They stayed until 11:30PM and it was pretty quiet evening. We gave them Mateus, a kiwi, pens, pad and tape. Sam came along and our two dogs went crazy with her in the house.
1987	Sanders over with a delicious ham. Gail barbecued using our outside burner. Had a light Matua Valley '85 cla After the meal was a little pool (video), dessert and gifts. Fran went to midnight Mass with Gail and kids. So we didn't open gifts until 3AM. David's big gift electric shaver and wood carving set, but he liked the survival knife the best (video). David gave me a venus fly trap plant. Ne gave me 10 pounds of MacIntoshes.
1988	Aldies over for a pancake breakfast. James entered saying: "Where are my presents?" We forced him to eat first. Brought Clarks their gifts (book for Mike, oven mit for Sandy, Santa, Pez, books for Sofie and a toy animal for Alex) at 4PM and caused much grief - a) Mike didn't want them opened until Christmas Day and b) the girls fought over them. They gave me a Pluto (poor Sandy can never remember that its GOOFY) walker. Couple gin and tonics and we left.
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