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Christmas 1974

12/25/2021

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Every now and then the Ghost of Christmas past haunts me. Especially this year.

My mother and sister (who both have gone on to be with the Lord years ago) loved to decorate and bring on the Christmas spirit. This particular Christmas day in 1974, my mother, sister and I lived in an upper apartment in Cedar Rapids. Gazing at our balcony from outside you would see a stuffed Santa Claus my sister made. I snapped a photo of her goofing around and posing with him outside. Oh what fun! She was an absolute blast.

We opened gifts that morning and boy was I excited. One of my presents was Rock Em Sock Em Robots (which I still have to this day). My sister and I had a riot playing with this toy, trying to knock each other's head off. Better than the real thing right? 😊


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Me at 10 years-old excited to open my present!
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My sister, Doris, and I fighting robot style!

My mother and sister both had an amazing sense of humor, always wrapped up with love. I remember my mother really put a lot of love and effort in holiday celebrations. My sister and I were so very fortunate.

The food was always amazing. Get my mom and sister in kitchen and they performed magic that must have come from the North Pole. Always a wonderful feast.

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My Mother, Lois, opening presents with us Christmas 1974

Today when I gaze back at the past, I realize it was not robots or a stuffed Santa or North Pole that made Christmas magical. It was simply being with family, a blessing God gave me especially as a young child. My holiday memories as a little boy, I will always cherish.

You never know when God will call your loved ones home. Enjoy celebrating with your family while you can. 

Merry Christmas to you all, and May God Bless EVERYONE! 🙏❤️
​

-- BBQ CRITIC

ROMANS 12:10 - "Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."

Amen! 🙏
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    HERB KANE - Publisher of BBQ Critic and a lifelong lover of BBQ with 20+ years working in the restaurant business. Two restaurants were BBQ joints including Red Hot & Blue BBQ and Dickey's BBQ Pit in Cedar Rapids, IA.

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