I guess I was maybe 6 or 7 – and it was the morning of Christmas.
I had been bad – so bad that I was told –
Santa knew I was naughty!

MORMOR & PAPA
That previous Summer – I had run from my mother in the backyard.
I do not remember what I had done –
but my older sister and my grand mother
were watching me from the front porch – looking over the side railing.

My mother and grandmother were a lot alike.
Both small – grandma gentle with 11 children.
Mom had her gentleness but she was feisty!
She ruled the house!

Grandma passed when she was 85 – mom almost 98!
That day she chased me in the yard – I made it to the front porch
and I crawled in as far as I could go – spider webs and all!
I hated spiders and still do to this day.
She managed to coax me out – but I got a licking from her.

As I get older – I look back in fondness at those times.
My mom was very good to me –
That morning of Christmas – all my family was sitting in the living room.
And for my first present they handed me a wrapped box-
all red and white with a ribbon.
I was excited – my little brother was maybe 2 years old
I took the ribbon off and then the wrapping paper.
It was like a shoe box and I could rattle it by shaking it!

I opened the lid and looked inside –
I did not say anything – but I bolted for the door –
No shoes or boots and out I went in my PJ’S!
Down the side yard – I ran as fast as I could –
Through the snow toward the big red barn.
And I reached the railroad tracks –
And with all my might I threw that box as far as I could.

That was the Christmas for being bad –
I GOT A LUMP OF COAL AND A PIGS TAIL!
Funny how things remain in your head –
I had learned my lesson
My mom taught me well – until she passed- we laughed about this.
She was tiny – she was gentle – she was my mom.
And today my angel in heaven smiling down.
She couldn’t catch me – but in the end
She taught me a lesson in life that I will always remember!

MORMOR & PAPA
Thank you for reading Papa’s World
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
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