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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Christmas (04/25/05)
A Christmas Long Remembered

That day couldn’t approach fast enough for Becky. Her anticipation of all the wonderful things that awaited on this coming holiday was going to be even better than the last. There was much more excitement as the Christmas holiday approached. Though Christmas had always been special for the Harrison familym much more preparation took place to get ready for this Christmas.It wasn’t only the wonderful array of ornaments and decorations that illuminated our home. It wasn’t even all the beautiful garland which lined the old wooden stairway up to the bedrooms that would be the main attraction this year. And it wasn’t the windows sprayed with snow, the lights on the tree or all the delicious aromas that would fill our home. No, this year our hearts would be captured by yet another attraction. And this one had a name, Lt. Richard J. Harrison, my brother. He was coming home!
My brother had dedicated himself to serve in the military branch of the army for the last ten years. He served in a unit of the special forces in which much that was done he was not allowed to speak about, not to any of us; which was fine with him, for he was much more interested in listening about all the things that had taken place in the lives of those who mattered most his life.
There my biggest brother Richard would be, setting at the long assembly of tables; which seemed to reach from here to the other side of the pasture; having the very first Christmas dinner back home with all his family. Included in this bunch of Texans were some one hundred and fifty plus relatives, which ecompassed all the nieces, nephews, and all the greats’ too. There was no doubt that this was going to be the most memorable Christmas ever!
We didn’t know how long he would be here, and to tell you the truth, no one wanted to even ask. We all just wanted to enjoy hearing my big brother with his deep voice that reminded me of that voice I heard in the movie “TheTen Command-ments” when God spoke to Moses. Sounds kind of crazy, that I thought of his voice that way; it was just that he had acquired such a strength in his voice which seemed to carry a lot of depth.
I have called him Ricky ever since I was little, and probably will for as long as I’m around.
He shared all the different things he could in only the way Ricky could describe. Ten years was a long time, so as you could imagine, there was a whole lot to say in what ended up being a short time to say it in.
Strange how we can sometimes forget all of the little things that those in our family use to do. Like tie our shoes when we were too little to hold and make the strings form into the bow the way we were suppose to. And show us how to throw a spiral when we were pretending to be playing football like the professionals did in the NFL, with the Dallas Cowboys of course being one of our favorites. And tell funny jokes that seemed to come when you needed them the most, along with all the other great things that big brothers shared with us. It was going to be hard for all of us to see him have to go. So, while he was here, there was one last thing for certain we would all make time for; and that was the famous Harrison family sack race! Down around the old fence post; which is a wonder is still there today; and along side the beautiful creek where all the beautiful wild flowers danced in the wind; which ran through the west side of the field where old Nellie our horse grazed; would the race take us.
We, with all the others cheering us on, would be laughing so hard we’d
nearly collapse before we could reach the finish line! Now wouldn’t that be the greatest present to have with my big brother. This would indeed be a Christmas long remembered!
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This article has been read 892 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
donna robinson
05/03/05
The reader was taken on a delightful trip to visit with your family. I could feel the love all around and the pride of the family as this son returned.
Phyllis Inniss 
05/06/05
This story comes from the heart with all the well-remembered favourite things. Loving families are all to be cherished. They give us strength to carry on. Thanks for sharing.