ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, December 24, 1995              TAG: 9512260075
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
                                             TYPE: CHRISTMAS MEMORIES 

MORE MEMORIES:

I cannot be certain when exactly my father lost his mind, but he sure did. The nightmare had come true - my father had a Christmas-light fixation. The roof, the trees, the bushes, the mailbox, the dogs, the cats - all draped with running lights, blinking lights, colored lights, white lights. I imagine there were guys standing on the surface of the sun looking at us, saying, "Man, that house is bright." But his craving for more was insatiable. The luminescence was spreading like electric kudzu, and there was little hope of stopping it. We knew that if we did not act fast, my father would reach the point of no return; yes, plastic statues of reindeer and Santa and Frosty.

... "Why did you change? I mean, is there a reason why you love Christmas so much now?''

That is when my father told me something I will never forget. ... "Son, it is the season. You don't have to have a reason."

David Gardy

Virginia Tech student

Mother looked thoughtful for a moment, and then she gave me something to think about. "Megan, there will be a time in your life when someone or something will make you believe in something that people will laugh at or scorn, but there will be no doubt in your mind that it exists. Until that happens, you are missing so many wonderful things. Think about it tonight."

Michelle B. Shockley

Floyd

That holiday [in Florida] was one of my most memorable, not only because it was our only Christmas road trip, but because it was my aunt's last. Sometimes I stay up late on December nights, just the tree and me. I remember past Christmases and feel a bit lonely, missing those who have gone on before me. You probably have, too. But have you noticed? The lights shine so much prettier when there are tears in your eyes, like icy trees in the Florida sunshine.

Mary-Alice Buhrer

Blacksburg

If you think family reunions at Christmas are a pain, just read this writer's memories. We thought his relatives might appreciate if we didn't name him, and them.

The two really bad things about the celebration are the people who smoke and the people who don't talk to each other or certain people. People who smoke in the house get stuffed with smoke and it makes a lot of people sick and cranky. This not speaking is because of a lot of things. The people who don't talk to each other are the people who are stuck up.

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