Gloria Stanley, member of First Presbyterian Church, wrote this reflection for the Christmas season: January 2, and I cannot believe where the years went. I remember in 1963 I was about to celebrate my 20 th birthday, the teen years would be no more and I was already anticipating being 21, the age at which I would be an adult (able to Party) my Mom told me “you are going to 20, do not wish your life away, once you are 21 the years will fly by.” She was right, they flew. I sit and remember this time of year during the past 50 years. When I was 20 it was a wonderful time, shopping and gift giving and of course receiving. I would sit in front of the Christmas tree in the living room just wondering what was under there for me. I would be excited for Mom and could not wait until she saw what I got for her. Packages would come from my Sister and there again “what is in there”? I still have the ladies electric shaver she gave me that year. Unfortunately we were not members of a Church back then, not sure why, there was a Catholic church right down the street, a big Methodist Church on Woodward avenue but too far away and no transportation. What was going on in 1963; 50 years ago when I was 20? The biggest news of that year was the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22nd. Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr was arrested, films included “The Birds” “The Great Escape” and popular TV programs were “The Virginian” and “Lassie”. Ladies fashion included fur boots and towering hair do’s. Beatlemania after the release of “I Want to Hold Your Hand/I Saw Her Standing There” hit the air ways. Yearly inflation rate in the USA was 1.24% Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 762 Average cost of a new home $12,650 Average Income per Year $5,807 Gas per Gallon .29 cents Average cost of a new car $3,233 Loaf of Bread .22 cents Bedroom Air Conditioner $149.95 Technology: AT&T introduces touch tone phones The first prototype Learjet takes off Zip Codes are implemented in the U.S. Popular musicians were: The Beatles, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, The Drifters, and Jim Reeves Popular Tv Programs were: The Andy Griffith Show The Flintstones Mister Ed The Avengers The Dick Van Dyke Show Our Church celebrated its 50 years a few years ago, and several of our members celebrated 50 years as members & I know that they have stories to tell about the past 50 years. As the 2012 Holiday season draws near, I am now alone, Mom, my Sister and Brother are gone, the house is empty but the memories remain. I know how much they loved Christmas, Mom singing in the Choir at First Church and playing Christmas music on her piano (Art Snook) tuned it up for her. I would hear her playing as I entered the driveway coming home from work, she would have the house all decorated, it felt so good. When she passed I thought that I would not do Christmas anymore, but that thought changed as the holiday drew near. I just had to decorate for her memory, and I thought perhaps I may not be here next year to decorate, so I do a little, but enough to hold her memory, and I am not really alone; The Lord is with me always, I invite him into my home each day of the year and on Christmas Eve after our Church service I come home to my little Dog Dexter, we invite Jesus in to share the rest of the evening together, perhaps talk to a few friends on the phone and thank God for what I have, thank him for the wonderful memories of family and friends who are no longer here. I just want to hold Christmas for what it truly is and I am full of joy along with a little sadness this time of year remembering the past 50 years of laughter and tears, joys and sorrows. I made it – Thanks Be to God – I made it this far. What about your past 50 years, if you have that many? Gloria Stanley Member, First Presbyterian Church
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