I have many happy holiday memories as a child in Fayetteville. I bet you do too. Many of my memories center around the evening family service at Trinity Church - how appropriate! I guess that means that at one time Christmas wasn't only about shopping and presents. Although I never could carry even the simplest tune, I was a member of the youth choir. We wore those starched white cassocks (is that the right word?) and long - were they blue?- robes underneath. I remember standing next to Laurie Reynolds who could sing very well. I just happily mouthed the words in hopes that Laurie's voice would be mistaken for mine. We sang those familiar Christmas Carols which have remained so much a part of the holiday for me. Every year we had a mitten tree at the church for hanging our gifts of mittens and hats for children who had none. I can smell the greens decorating the church and the wet wool of everyone's coats right now. A few years, a light and perfect snow fell as we left the church - after dark of course in December. Those were the magical times. Because my siblings Bill and Beth were 6 years younger than me I also had the treat of anticipating a visit from Santa Clause for many years after I myself had grown too old.
During the school vacation it was often cold enough for skating on the ice rink next to the fire station or at the pond by the high school. And hot chocolate at Rutkoff's afterwards. I never skied until after college, but I know many of you did. I expect you skied over the school vacation.
That made me remember snow closings. Can't you still hear that voice on the radio- who was the announcer? - either saying Fayetteville-Manlius Schools closed - oh joy! or skipping right over us - oh disappointment. Thank you Chuck for your post encouraging us to remember.
Wherever you are now, I hope you enjoy the happiest of holiday seasons.
Sharon
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2 comments:
Hi Sharon,
Thanks, I did read your comment on my post.....but it isn't that I have a good memory, it's that I have good memories! Thank you for sharing your memories of Christmas at Trinity. Many of my fondest, and oldest F-M memories are wrapped around times at the United Church. I sang there long before I was in the Swing Sixteen - and have been in the choir, and a worship leader in every church my family's been a part of since, and at 16, we're now the biggest family there. I think of old friends from F-M every year at our Christmas Eve service. We close the service singing "Silent Night", and holding candles with that little paper wax protector that has the name of the candle company in Syracuse that Steve & Jerry Muench's family started. May the warmth of your memories, and the love of Him whose birth we celebrate fill your heart - and the hearts of all the other old friends who read these words as well.
Merry Christmas,
Chuck Gough
I could walk up to the fire station with my skates and have a really good time there. Some days I had to help shovel the rink off. The volunteer fire department was responsible for performing the chore of building the rink.
Of course there was also sledding at Green Lakes State Park. Does anyone recall the rope tow that was set up at the driving range during the winter for new skiiers? Jonny B.
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