Growing up, I had a very dear older "cousin" that was the closest thing I had in my family to a storyteller. She was a very special lady in my life for many many years. Lela Johnson Burge was born in Huntington, OH on a very cold December morning in 1894. She died in the year 2000 at the tender age of 105 1/2 - 3 months short of turning 106. Her Christmas memories were of growing up and going to school in Wellington and going to her friend's homes for Christmas parties. They would have ice skating parties at the local ponds. Her Christmas presents were something homemade or something small. Maybe an orange in her stocking and a handful of walnuts or pecans. They would put homemade bows on the tree and make popcorn and cranberry chains. They enjoyed their Holidays by sharing time with their friends and by attending church services. There wasn't the commercialism of today. Lela had many stories to tell and I was fortunate enough to have my sister tape record many of those stories for me. For Lela's 100th birthday I put together a booklet of some of her memories and newspaper articles to go along with her own memories. After she passed away I was able to get the book back again. Now, who has another story? Margaret Cheney Merry Christmas to All..........