pyle@airmail.net wrote: > > Dear Pyle cousins, > > With the holiday season here I was thinking that it would be enjoyable > if we share any traditions or favorite memory of the holiday season that > we have. > > Sara, Your story brings back memories of my childhood. We lived near the Trinity River in Kaufman/Henderson County and we would go to the 'free range' area of the river bottom flood plain and gather pecans for Christmas baking and also to sell for Christmas gifts. We usually worked several week-ends to get enought to sell. My parents would go to Waxahatchie to shop while we were at school. We knew when they had been shopping as soon as we came inside the house, you could smell apples and oranges. That was during the late 30's and early WW II years and we only had 'store' bought fruits at Christmas time. We drew names at school, then the last day before Christmas vacation, we had a Christmas Tree in the gym at and placed all the presents under it and the whole community came. We sang carols and Santa passed out the gifts and just had a great time. The last year I attended that school (11 years old) I got a bottle of Jergen's lotion wrapped in a brown paper bag. To this day, I don't know who gave that to me!! Merry Christmas Ya'll from TEXAS !!! Doris