The Wacky Christmas Presents

Thought I would do a quick post on the joy it was to be in my family during the holidays when I was a teenager and in college.  For some reason we went through a strange phase of handmade gifts for one person each year that was truly tremendous.  Now this was my dad's family as they are the most cra cra!  Yeah I love you guys too!

It all began after a very very very long trip from Alabama to Texas and back to visit my Uncle Layne and his family.  For some reason the gods had it out for my dad on that trip.  He was forever getting lost even if he was following someone and we did not have cell phones then so it was hours long to get him back to us.  He tried to get gas with cash once and for some reason the place wouldn't take it.  Who knows?!  Anyway, the Christmas after that summer, me, my brother and my Aunt Pat came up with the great idea of creating him a Texas ID card that would help him wherever he went in Texas.  We took an old picture and made the ID card along with a detailed letter apologizing for his problems and confirming that in the future he would always have a great trip in TX.  Keep in mind, Dad was still fuming about the trip so we were risking our lives.  However, he took it all in stride and carried that ID around for awhile I think.

It then started to get a bit crazy!  My Uncle Layne moved back from Texas a few years later and was living with my Aunt Dot.  He liked to work with wood and made something also for my dad that was the best part of that holiday and truly proved we were rednecks.  If I can find the pictures of this thing I will scan and put them here some time.  Ok, here goes!  Please don't remember us too harshly for this one.  It was a "booger picker."  Yes folks, it was a hand shaped in wood with an extension on one of the fingers to improve the reach!  It was hilarious!  We have photos with a number of family members including my grandmother checking it out.  My dad and his brother are just fools together but I love them for it.

We finally ended this on a simpler note.  My Aunt Dot was the last to get gifted.  She had a bit of a fascination with Tammy Faye Baker back during the days of that horror.  So we put together for her a Tammy Faye Makeup Kit.  It was pink but in it were things like spackle and heavy duty paints.  She got a kick out of it.

After that we kind of waned down but it was pretty funny and shows you that apparently we have no fear in gifts for our family.  Maybe because with it came a lot of love and joy!  I bless them for giving me those memories and not being afraid to enjoy them!

Wishing all my friend and family a booger free holiday!

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