Joy to the world,

The Lord is come,

Let earth receive her king!

We go back a long way to recall our age of four. Mother wouldn’t let the candles on the tree be lit until Dad came home. They were real candles, in little pinch-on candle holders. Electric lights — much less electric Christmas tree lights — hadn’t made their way to Washington yet.

Our favorite doll was Jessie, and she was a guest at Christmas one year when Santa was generous and brought us a yellow-haired, blue-eyed doll — a real beauty.

It took most of our time reassuring Jessie that she was still the favorite!

Our grandparents lived up on the hill in Mount Vernon, about eight blocks from our home, and Christmas was one of the holidays when everyone came home!

The dining room was something to behold — the long table centered with Grandma’s late-blooming asters.

We kids ate at a special table in the kitchen. Grandpa sat at the head of the dining room table and asked a blessing for all the wonderful things that had transpired that year.

Turkey, dressing, salad, pumpkin pie — with four aunts and Grandma in the kitchen — hooray!

After dinner and the dishes washed and all cleared away, the organ in the living room lent its melodies for Grandpa’s Irish jig and Dan’s contribution to a wonderful afternoon.

We kids just sat and watched. It was a holiday at Grandma and Grandpa’s house, the cousins and the aunts and uncles put everything they had into making the day a success.

Santa had been with us that morning and he had been more than generous.

The weather was unusually pretty and there was time for a walk outside where the big berry-laced holly tree stood as king of the garden!

Christmases come and go, and remembering is a favorite part of the program. Today kids don’t have to wait until Dad comes home to light the Christmas-tree candles.

Happy holiday to you all this coming Christmas Day!

Dorothy Neil has gathered and recorded Whidbey Island history for more than 50 years. Her 10 books chronicle Whidbey life and times.