CHRISTMAS: DAY 4

Christmas 1966

Christmas 1966

My dad was conservative and a neat-freak, but he had some pretty unconventional ideas when it came to Christmas trees. After the years of the tree in the barrel—Christmas: Day 2—(As yet I have not found a photo to share with you.), he wanted to hang the tree from the ceiling upside down. He figured that we could pile the presents underneath and they would not take up so much space in the living room. My mother vetoed this idea. I wanted a variety of ornaments in different colors. She also vetoed that idea. We only had silver and blue balls with blue lights and tinsel. Her vetoes held until she passed away.

This was the mid-sixties and the practice of the time was to have your tree flocked to look as if it was covered in snow. Living in Silicon Valley in California, we never had snow on Christmas and only twice while I was growing up.

In 1966 my father figured out the engineering problem of hanging the tree in his desired position without permanently damaging the ceiling. The picture here shows the result; though, my grandmother, Shirley, my sister, Judy, and I are blocking most of the tree. My grandmother was the chronicler of all family- related affairs through a daily journal and photography. In most instances, if she didn’t take a photo of an event, we didn’t have one. Since she is in the photo, I am lucky to have this one!