[Ohio-talk] My Christmas Story

[Andra Stover]

Wanda, that is such a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 19, 2018, at 10:11 PM, Wanda Sloan via Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I have had my Mom for 69 years and this is the first year without her.  So,
> I decided to write this and share it.
> 
> Wan
> 
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> My Christmas Story
> 
> By W. M. Sloan
> 
> 
> 
> March 31, 1968, at the age of 46, my father, Richard Sloan succumbed to
> Non-Hoskins Lymphoma.  On April 4th we funeralized him. 
> 
> It was a devastating day, the same day the Dr. Martin Luther King was
> killed.  As we sat in the funeral home car the news bulletin announced over
> the radio. About Dr. King's killing. As the days went on, my older brother,
> Hartzell, a communication engineer for A.T.T., received a Hardship Discharge
> and was sent home from Vietnam.
> 
> The Red Cross assisted in getting him home in time for his Dad's funeral and
> we  were happy that he did not have to return.
> 
> The Sloan's life, minus one member surged on.  My Mother went to work at
> Standard Register as a P.B.X. Operator, older brother, Hartzell returned to
> A.T.T., I worked at a local medical center and attended nursing school and
> my younger brother Roland, was still in high school.
> 
> Before my Father's passing, his talent in Construction Trades, came in handy
> when he build a 25 ft. picnic. Table for our social gatherings in our wooded
> area   where we would grill food for our neighbors and family friends.
> And, he also had a record collection of over 300 albums of the jazz greats,
> Count Basie, Benny Goodman Quincy Jones, and Ramsey Lewis and so on.  My Dad
> loved to have a good time and after his demise, having a good time didn't
> stop with his family.
> 
> 
> 
> As Christmas time began to approach my brothers and I noticed my mother
> disposition changing.  Mom seemed depressed. This was   Christmas Eve, we
> still did not have a tree because we counted on my mother supplying it like
> my Dad did and this particular time, it just was not happening Just then, I
> grabbed up my car keys and told my family I will be back soon.  I taken off
> in my car and went to a nearby grocery store.  As I drove up to the
> building, I found many Pine Trees unattended leaning up against the
> building.  So, I chose one that I liked, placed into the back seat.  I
> presented the price tag to the customer service desk.  I told the
> representative that I wanted to pay for a tree and he said no, Merry
> Christmas.  With a big smile, I thanked him and and also wish him a
> Christmas greeting.
> 
> Within   10 minutes I returned home and honked my car horn and pulled out
> the tree.  As I entered the house the boys ran down the basement stairs and
> returned with the tree decorations.  My Mother's disposition changed with a
> big smile and hug from her.  We all became busy with decorating and I just
> said Dad is here with us because this is just what he would have wanted for
> us to do.   The Spirit
> 
> Of Christmas celebration is the love that our Holey Father wants us to feel
> and share.  May each and every one of you have a very joyest and fulfilling
> holiday season.
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