My Most Romantic Christmas

In 1976, my sailor husband was out to sea in his submarine leaving me and our infant daughter alone in Groton, Connecticut. My Kansas home had never seemed so far away. In spite of the fact that I was going to spend the holidays with only my seven-month-old daughter, I was determined to imbue our sparsely furnished apartment with the Christmas spirit. With the baby in my backpack carrier, I trudged through the snow at a nearby Christmas tree farm and picked out the most beautiful blue spruce I could find in my price range.

Needless to say, it was small, but it filled my apartment with that wonder fresh-cut pine scent. After adding a string of new light and the few ornaments I had brought from home, my living room didn’t look quite so bleak. In fact, the sofa and the floor lamp looked positively delighted to have the company. As I made a foil star to top my tree, I struggled not to cry. It was a very low point in my life. Facing the holidays alone was hard.

Then, one December 22, I got an unexpected call. My husband’s submarine was coming into port for repairs and the crew would be allowed one night’s liberty. On Christmas Eve! That night, I hurried to picked up my husband at the naval base. We hadn’t seen each other in two and a half months. There was a whole lot of kissing going on even without mistletoe.

After the baby was tucked snug in her crib, my husband and I snuggled together on the sofa. The lovely lights of my little tree cast a heartwarming glow across the room. That tiny, bare apartment became the place I spend my most romantic Christmas Eve ever.





Tell us about a special Christmas in your life.

12 comments:

Rox Delaney said...

Beautiful story, Pat!!! One made for romance. :)

Pat Davids said...

Thanks, Rox.
My second best Christmas was the one after our house fire. We were just settled in our current house, but I had no decorations. My husband and I invited a group of our friends from work for our first party in our new home. They all brought ornaments for our tree. Those have become my most valuable treasures.
Pat

Starla Kaye said...

Thanks for sharing your romantic Christmas memory. I've had lots of good Christmas memories, too, with family over the years.

Reese Mobley said...

Thanks for sharing, Pat. Isn't it funny how when we look back on our life that it's the little things that mean the most. XOXO

jel said...

that was a cool story, :)



my best christmas, i guess would be when i got my very first job, and was able to buy presents for my family with my own money! :)
(I was 19 )

thanks for the invite to your blog!
hav e a great day!

Joan Vincent said...

Pat,
I could almost see and smell that small Christmas tree. It reminded me of the first tree we had after we first married. Thanks for sharing yours and bringing back good memories.

Becky A said...

Pat, you should write a book about your life, you've had some great experiences.
One Christmas that stands out for me was at the whopping age of five. We had gone on a shopping binge and I saw a large, stuffed dog that I absolutely loved. I told my neighbor, actually nagged and hinted as only a five year old can do, about that dog and was greatly disappointed (say crushed)when I got yelled at for carrying on so much. Imagine my surprise when on Christmas morning there sat a giant, purple poodle with my name on it. I wouldn't have picked out either a poodle or purple but was so thrilled to get a large stuffed dog, that I didn't care about those minor details. I slept and played with that dog for years. She finally died a horrible death by falling apart from too much love, but I can still remember the thrill in my spirit to know that someone listened and actually got me what I wanted for Christmas.
Thanks for the reminder, Becky

Pat Davids said...

Jel,
I know what you mean about having your own money to buy presents. Thanks for sharing.


Becky, I'd write a book about my life but I don't know the ending yet. Thanks for the stuffed dog story. I can imagine your delight.

Pat

Anonymous said...

My best christmas was when I was a small kid with my 6 brothers and sisters. We all came out to the tree wearing matching Leopard pajamas it was so cute. It was magical back then, and I know that all my siblings and I are tied together for all eternity.
Ruthie Appleby

Pat Davids said...

Ruthie,
Thanks for stopping by. Oh what a cute scene that must have been. I had a pair of lepoard pj's with feet in them when I was in college. I loved them.
Pat

Penny Rader said...

Oh, Pat! What a wonderful story. You have such an amazing way with words. I agree...you should write your life story, even if you don't know the ending yet. I had no idea you lived in Connecticut. I've never been there, but it always makes me think of Christmas.

Pat Davids said...

Penny,
I vividly remember two things about Connecticut in the winter. One was seeing snow up to the windowsills outside. The other was waiting for the snow plow to come by so I could get out and get to work. Every day.