All I Want For Christmas
Posted by PR Wonk under Creating Smiles and Stories on
Although the holidays can be expensive and filled with stress–lots of last minute shopping, trying to figure out what the annual holiday greeting card to friends and family should look like, who should get one and trying to mail them before the first of the year–I still love the holidays. I always have and always will. I love the lights, the decorations, the music, the specials on TV, the tree and trimmings, all the homemade goodies, family gatherings and, yes, I still love the presents… giving as well as receiving them.
As a child I remember, as many children do, dreaming of all of the things under the tree and counting the presents, shaking them and trying to figure out what was in each of them. Even though it seemed like it took forever to come, Christmas was always over way too quickly and it wasn’t long before we slipped back into our normal, everyday routines of school and work.
Tonight as I put my two boys to bed, they asked me “Dad, what was your favorite present you ever got at Christmas?” After thinking for a second or two, I smiled and told them it was a stuffed lion, “Larry Lion” to be exact. He was made back in the late 1960s by Mattel and he could talk. If you pulled his string, his mouth would move and could say things such as, “I’m king of the jungle” and “I’m a very, very, very brave lion.” Oh, and he would also roar. I think I got Larry when I was around three years old and I remember how petrified I was of him at first because he seemed so real and that freaked me out. I quickly overcame my fear of Larry and we became best friends. I know that my mom still has him tucked away somewhere in a closet and the last time I ran across him, he still talked.
Telling my boys about “Larry Lion” made me smile and it brought back all of the wonderful Christmas memories of years ago. Before this holiday season slips away, and the stress of trying to fit everything in before that magical day, please take a moment and share with us your all-time favorite gift or treasured memory “from Christmas’ long, long ago.”
We wish you and yours all the joys and memories this holiday season brings!
Comments
My brother had Larry Lion!!! I LOVED him1!! And I haven’t though of him in years!!! Thanks so much!
RAWR…I’m the king of the jungle!
I must’ve been about 6, and that year I got 2 brand new dolls. one, a smaller doll from an International Miss collection0 she was Spain. The other, a beautiful Effanbee doll dressed in a gorgeous gown . I think she was “Versailles” themed… They were both incredibly beautiful with all their lace and ruffles… but the one I loved most and wanted to play with was the Spain doll. But the always practical, farmwife, waste-not-want-not, never-use-the-good-china grandmother who gave her to me said no, she’s just for looking at, not touching. Try telling a 6 year old she has a doll, but she can’t play with it!
Now, the Effanbee doll–much more elaborate, and certainly more expensive–even as a 6 year old, I was afraid to soil her–came from my other Grandmother, my Nana, the fun-loving California girl who uses any excuse to pull out and use even her nicest things… she said “what’s her name? Let’s have a tea party with her after Christmas Dinner!”… I named her Babette, after the French doll in Raggedy Ann, and 30+ years later, missing a sock, a bonnet, 2 shoes, and a little worse for the wear, she still holds a place of honor on my dresser, having been drug all over the world… I still have the collectible doll too, and many more from the series that came later, and always sat primly on a shelf out of reach… But Babette was special. And the lesson Nana taight me, that having beautiful things is meaningless if you don’t use them, has stayed with me.
I have Larry the Lion! I always laughed when he said “oohh I scared myself!” He doesn’t talk so very well any more but I still have him.
i say get off ur horse and go get Larry the loin. a toy like that should be on a shelf in ur room or what ever. not turning to dust in mom’s basement. toys have feelings too! ever see toy story!!!!!!!!
Great story Tisha! Thanks for sharing!
mama Amy,
Larry isn’t in the basement turning to dust. He’s well protected in a closet, Mom actually found him the other day and confirmed that he still talks! Thanks 4 the comment and happy holidays!!
Debby,
My boys can’t wait to go visit grandma’s and hear him talk. Great toy. They don’t make’em like Larry any more! I’m actually surprised at how many people remember that toy or had a Larry Lion of their own.
Trisha,
Thanks for sharing some of your childhood memories with us. Very cool story! Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday!
Susan,
Thanks for posting a comment. One of the very few toys from my childhood I still have. Does your brother still have his?
Nice Wonk,
I thought you were a teenager in the 60′s. LOL I guess we’re all still kids.