Here Comes Santa Claus...Are you ready???

[Generals64]

Just around the corner Ho-ho-ho. That's right, Santa Claus is getting all geared up how about you?????Can you reveal any of your childhood memories of the time before Christmas?????

[papaOU]

Just around the corner Ho-ho-ho. That's right, Santa Claus is getting all geared up how about you?????Can you reveal any of your childhood memories of the time before Christmas?????

It sounds corny but I miss the school programs............

Was in vocal and glee clubs................

We performed at an evening concert at school..........

We also performed at Shepard Mall........

These were all in Jr. High....

My Mother says that I did good in school until the 10th grade and then it seems (her words) "I went to pot."

She has no idea how right she is....................

funny! But not funny!

[kevinpate]

I remember when the commerce side of Christmas wasn't on the radar, or in the stores, until after Halloween.

Miss that.

[Jesseda]

miss gettingthose rudolp gift boxes at montgomery wards, i miss the christmas music being played everywhere and where storefronts went above and beyond with christmas displays, same with shoping centers, candy canes snow man hanging from poles.. i really miss it, now its just christmas adds and getting into the store and hope you can survive getting out of the store. no music no really nothing anymore.. heck even visiting santa isnt magical anymore, croosroads in the early 80s had a village set up and trail of decorations and fake snow everywhere

[Generals64]

miss gettingthose rudolp gift boxes at montgomery wards, i miss the christmas music being played everywhere and where storefronts went above and beyond with christmas displays, same with shoping centers, candy canes snow man hanging from poles.. i really miss it, now its just christmas adds and getting into the store and hope you can survive getting out of the store. no music no really nothing anymore.. heck even visiting santa isnt magical anymore, croosroads in the early 80s had a village set up and trail of decorations and fake snow everywhere

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The excitement that loomed in the air was fantastic. The people of days gone by would smile during these times and speak to each other even though they were strangers. I wonder how many cups of Coffee or Cokes were bought for strangers years ago. Simply because they wanted to. Christ was the center of the whole situation.....Not the Holy Dollar.....you know, we had a higher Gross Profit percentage in the 60's at TG&Y than in the 70's & 80's.. We might have done volume in Sales but our Profit margin was higher....We can ( this Nostalgic group) at least remember the way it was and only pray that it will come again....Santa Claus is still alive maybe in the hearts of the Old Folks (like me and others) but, he still looms out there...Ho-Ho-Ho......(Not the clown).

[Prunepicker]

Just around the corner Ho-ho-ho. That's right, Santa Claus is getting all
geared up how about you? Can you reveal any of your childhood memories of
the time before Christmas?

I'll do that after Thanksgiving!

[papaOU]

Went into the Family Dollar (I think. Can never keep the 2 cheapo s straight: Dollar Store/Family dollar) to get my puppy (2 year old blue pit. A big baby) some treats. They had out all of their Christmas theme items. Plates, table cloths, candle holders......

Just junk of that nature and it literally made me sick...

No Walmart, Target, or department store for me.

If I need something I'll send someone.....

[Jesseda]

papaou which family dollar store, is it in moore?

[papaOU]

papaou which family dollar store, is it in moore?

S.W. 25th and Walker, okc.................

[Jesseda]

oh, my wife works at the one in moore of 12th and eastern, she thought it was funny putting out the christmas stuff right by the halloween at the same time..

[papaOU]

oh, my wife works at the one in moore of 12th and eastern, she thought it was funny putting out the christmas stuff right by the halloween at the same time..

It's ridiculous. Not long ago you did not see Christmas items until after Thanksgiving.

[jawgie]

My Mom took me on the bus to the John A. Brown downtown and we would shop and then window shop. It was magical for a 5 year old.

[westsidesooner]

I remember when my parents took us to Penn Square when it was still an open air shopping center. Brrrrrrrr.

Honestly though I havn't even taken the halloween decorations out of the attic. Its to early to even think about Christmas.....of course I'll be saying that again when I only have one week left and I havn't started my shopping yet. sigh

[rondvu]

The best places to get Christmas decorations was Hagee's at NE 23rd and Spencer Rd, Spartans and at Gibson's. No one could beat their selection. One childhood memory was the cheesy corrugated cardboard wanna be fireplaces that TG&Y used to sell. It was like every kid in town would run there finger down the corrugated cardboard and mess it up. I also miss the candles, trees, snowmen, stars and angels that all the shopping centers would hang from their parking lot lights. I even liked the aluminum Christmas trees along with the color wheels. We also used to play Christmas music outside our home. My dad would go to Firestone and Goodyear stores to get the best albums. I can still hear Doris Day singing Toyland. All the neighbors would comment how they enjoyed our efforts to make the holiday more enjoyable. The the embargo of the 70's came and they did not want you to do any holiday lighting so we could conserve. That lasted a few years, but never felt the same, perhaps I had grown up during those few years. I also liked watching the Timothy OTASCO commercials. It was like the BC Clark jingle is today. I KNEW CHRISTMAS WAS COMING.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsvEWGQosB0

[Jesseda]

ohh this might be a good time to talk about north pole city, has it opened yet lol

[Generals64]

ohh this might be a good time to talk about north pole city, has it opened yet lol

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Yesw it is opened in the same spot....The For Sale sign is still there though.

[papaOU]

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Yesw it is opened in the same spot....The For Sale sign is still there though.

Not long ago North Pole City had a guy come in looking for work. Directed him to the office and told him someone would be with him shortly.

Too bad someone left the safe open.

Grabbed the cash and made a dash.

Don't know if he was ever caught.......

[ktybug]

Just around the corner Ho-ho-ho. That's right, Santa Claus is getting all geared up how about you?????Can you reveal any of your childhood memories of the time before Christmas?????

Thinking about how wonderful Christmas (yes Christmas, NOT THE HOLIDAYS!) used to be makes me blue. We lived only a block from Redding Shopping Center. Anthony's and Streets always had elegant clothes and windows to dream in.

But for me, the Capitol Hill area was Christmas at it's finest. Kress, Otasco, John A. Brown's, Rexal, Mr. Bucks, Cecil's, the bakery and the jewelry store. All decorated to perfection. Christmas lights strung across the entire shopping blocks. Santa to visit that did not cost anything to visit and they did not care how old you were! Everyone received that candy cane.

What about the Christmas cards in the 50's, 60's and even the early 70's? Everyone you knew sent them. Ton's of them! We could not wait to get the mail every day!

Gee. now I really am depressed! Guess I will just eat some HalloThanksXmas chocolate!

[gen70]

Thinking about how wonderful Christmas (yes Christmas, NOT THE HOLIDAYS!) used to be makes me blue. We lived only a block from Redding Shopping Center. Anthony's and Streets always had elegant clothes and windows to dream in.

But for me, the Capitol Hill area was Christmas at it's finest. Kress, Otasco, John A. Brown's, Rexal, Mr. Bucks, Cecil's, the bakery and the jewelry store. All decorated to perfection. Christmas lights strung across the entire shopping blocks. Santa to visit that did not cost anything to visit and they did not care how old you were! Everyone received that candy cane.

What about the Christmas cards in the 50's, 60's and even the early 70's? Everyone you knew sent them. Ton's of them! We could not wait to get the mail every day!

Gee. now I really am depressed! Guess I will just eat some HalloThanksXmas chocolate!

"Well Said".....

[gen70]

I remember the street just east of Sears that went "All Out"....

[papaOU]

Unless you have been to Capitol Hill in some time there were some changes made. They installed street lights that are replicas of maybe the 1920's or so. One evening between Thanksgiving and Christmas it was a gray night. Not foggy but there was a haze in the air adding a "glow" to each and every lamp. Each was decorated with Christmas items. Not religious, but rather snowmen, candy-canes and such. From Walker to Broadway there was not a parking space to be found. If in your mind you could see the vehicles as being from the 1940's to 1960's it was a Christmas scene from the past. The scene sent chills through my body and made my eyes misty. Of all the times I wish I had a camera that moment was one. Maybe I'll get another chance........

[oneforone]

I love Christmas. It has always been my favorite time of year. I had to pull up the Christmas tracks in ITunes to soothe my urge to put the tree up just a couple of days ago.

I promised the wife I would wait until November 21st (Saturday before Thanksgiving) to let my inner Clark Griswold come out to play.

The new led lights are killer. I love the true depth of the colors.

[PennyQuilts]

I loved the community atmosphere and the magic of Christmas. It was just so much more intense than it is now - shorter time and while the stores may have done it to stimulate sales, that isn't what people were thinking. We were just experiencing the magic.

I also loved the Shepherd Mall choirs - I always was afraid I'd accidently step off and break my neck (yes, EO, I was a pessimist from way back). My best girl friend and I always got dropped off for a day of Christmas Shopping and we'd shop from opening to closing for everyone on our list. At some point, we'd always get an ice cream at that little spot in the mall. If we were flush, we'd split something from El Charitos.

My grandmother always saved Christmas cards and decorated every package. I guess that is a forerunner to scrapbooking, now that I think about it.

That same best girl friend and I would also cut down a small cedar and drag it into the barn. We'd decorate it with popcorn and red and green Christmas chains (remember those - loved those!). We always made some present for our horses and dogs. One year, one of the horses got in and ate all the popcorn off the tree. Left the thread, thankfully.

[Generals64]

I remember in Jr. High and Sr. High School we (Marching Band) would always march in both the Capitol Hill and the Downtown OKC Christmas Parade. Those two days were the days that the Christmas lights were turned on and Christmas windows were shown and the Mayor would declare the Holidays were officially here. I bought My wife to be a Blue Sweater for our first Christmas....then I thought hey I'll get her two gifts...I bought here a pair of Blue Slacks.....why don't they just have one shade of Blue????she never wore them together oh well..My heart was there....My wife has a younger cousin (female) that I have "Picked" on since she was a little girl and she has done the same to me through the years. We used to always get each other a gift so one year I got her some Blue Waltz perfume...ha-ha-ha....Without realizing she had been planning this all year she got me a Cow Pile....Yep that's what I said. she had a pretty ribbon that said "Merry Christmas". The box was wrapped beautifully and the package was heavy......No I couldn't top that one....Any way, Christmas is supposed to be a good time of the year....Right????? I went into Lowe's yesterday.....all of their Christmas merchandise is put out and up for sale....wait a minute this is the first of October isn't it????

[Generals64]

I think (in my infinite wisdom) that we should "draw" names at the next meeting for a Nostalgic Christmas gift for one of this crew......