Christmas Eve is always memorable but this particular one was even more so. My parents went to town with the older boys and Carol. I was home with the younger kids. Five of them plus me. I was probably 14 or 15. I was always glad to help out with the kids. My mother trusted me so we were fine.

It began to get late and so Bill & Ann and I put the rest of the kids to bed and we decorated the tree. I finally sent Ann to bed as she was so sleepy. Bill and I kept the fire going and watched TV and just generally paced the floor wondering where our parents were. It had snowed earlier but the roads were not impassible. Bill was getting tired so he went to bed and there I was. I decided to get the gifts out and place them around the tree as it was getting into 2:00 in the morning and I wondered if something had happened. With no phone there wasn't a way to call anyone and no near neighbors to go to. I just plain worried!!

After getting the gifts done and putting more wood on the fire I got a book and sat back to read. My favorite occupation. Pretty soon I heard someone talking outdoors and went to the door and put on the porch light. I was scared but at the same time hopeful that it was my parents finally making it home.

It was them and they were cold, wet and tired. The car had broken down and they had walked through the woods to get home as it was closer than going by the road. My mother had a dress on and high heels. Can you imagine!! She was so pleased to come in to a warm house and the tree and gifts done. I was so happy to have them home I couldn't begin to grasp it. I finally went to bed and they were still getting warm. It was a wonderful Christmas.