Special Holiday Issue Winter 2005

In Touch News for employees of the Clemson University Libraries We asked you for your special holiday memories, and you gave them to us! Thank you and Happy Holidays from In Touch! The Biggest Tree Christmas time at my house as a child was always Submitted by Fredda Mealor exciting. My parents would wrap presents from them to place under the tree, and then we would have "Santa presents" that would magically appear on Christmas Eve night. I always thought it was interesting how Santa made it IN to our house since we didn't have a chimney and had 2 dead bolts on the door! Nevertheless, my mother assured me that Santa had keys to everyone's house and would have no problem getting in. As a child, I was always the first one up, much to the dismay of my older sister, who always thought that anything left under the tree couldn't be as important as a few more minutes of sleep. And also to the dismay of my parents, who I'm sure had just fell in to bed after assembling the various presents and placing them "just so" under the artificial tree. When I moved out and had a place of my own, my longtime beau, Dale, persuaded me to get a real tree. As a child, his family had the tradition of hiking through the woods and cutting down a real tree, despite who's land the tree actually belonged to, and then throwing it in the back of the truck, and making haste to put it up in their own home before getting caught. I conceded that a real tree might actually be nice, but that perhaps a tree farm would be a safer option that hopefully would not land us in jail. We thought that my mom might like a real tree as well, since this particular Christmas would be her first alone in the house since I had moved out and my Dad had passed away from cancer. After much discussion, we persuaded her that a real tree would be a nice new tradition to start. She sent us on our way with the instructions that she wanted "the biggest one they had". (My mom was never one to do things half-heartedly.) After walking around the tree farm to find the perfect trees, we went back home with the biggest tree we could find for my mom, and the best "un-perfect" tree for my house. (Each year, I have to find just the right tree that has a little something wrong with it. Dale laughs at this each year, but says I adopt the orphan trees that no one else would want. Maybe it has a hole on one side, or maybe it's a little crooked. But it has to be perfect, except for the one "imperfect" thing that makes it special!) Many of you may have experienced what comes next in the story. The trees at the Christmas tree farms always look a little smaller out in the open fields than they do when you get them home. (At this point, it might be a good idea for me to mention that I grew up in a rather small 2 bedroom home that I still live in today, that has simple 8 foot ceilings.) When we put the tree up in the stand, and brought it inside, we realized that it was a tree made for the Biltmore House! We had to cut over 14 inches out of the top of the tree! But my mom loved it! It took up the entire room! Mom passed away 3 years ago, but each time we decorate a tree, I think of her and smile. I think back and remember the look on her face when we tried to squeeze a 10 foot tree into a small house with 8 foot ceilings. So a tradition was started. Each year we get a big tree. And each year it's too big. And we laugh and say "next year we'll get a smaller one." But we never do. This years tree only had to have 6 inches cut out of the top of it. So at least we're making progress! Merry Christmas to you all! Have a blessed Christmas! A picture of The Best Christmas Present When asked Mickey, the about the best Submitted by Richard Kyle new employee Christmas present in Circulation! he’d ever received, Richard Kyle replied that it was his digital camera. (Leave it to a systems guy to get all excited over something electronic!) His wife Beth totally surprised him with a Mavica camera. He had no idea, and to this day, it’s still the best present he’s ever received! In Touch Page 2 Special Holiday Issue — Winter

Stilts for Christmas I remember one Christmas when I was about 8 or 9 (I Submitted by Bonnie Lanier think) when it was like 65 degrees. That may not seem too terribly unusual for South Carolina, but in Maryland it sure was. I got a pair of stilts for Christmas and I was actually able to go outside and try to learn how to use them. I have no idea why I got stilts...its not like I wasn't tall enough! Santa in his wisdom. Maybe I can ask him....

Guatemala Adoption Memories Submitted by Andrew Kearns

For my wife Sofía and me, the December holidays will forevermore be associated with our trip to Guatemala one year ago to meet and begin our life with our son, Tomás. We had been through a long and frustrating adoption process, during which we had almost given up hope, when we received the call in late November. On December 1, 2005, we arrived in Guatemala City a little after noon. Christmas decorations were already up around much of the city, and in the days that followed the mood became ever more festive. In spite of their tragic history, Guatemalans have a well-deserved reputation for hospitality, and we were treated well wherever we went. We first met Tomás on December 2, visiting him at the orphanage where he had spent most of the first 19 months of his life. He was running toward us down a hallway when we first saw him; he stopped dead in his tracks, as if he knew why we were there. We had decided to visit him at the orphanage a couple of times before we took custody of him, both to give him a chance of getting used to us and to better learn about his life there. So between visits, we took an extended weekend to visit three of the major attractions of Guatemala-the glorious Mayan ruins at Tikal, the vibrant market at Chichicastenango, and the beautiful Lake Atitlán. The following Monday we visited Tomás for the second time, and then on Tuesday, December 7, we took him with us to our hotel. December 7th is the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a major holiday in Guatemala, and the people there have a custom to “burn the devil” in effigy and shoot off fireworks. Somehow, we all got to sleep that night! Over the next couple of weeks, we adjusted to life with each other. We spent five wonderful days in the colonial city of Antigua, where we stayed in a hotel with a beautiful garden perfect for Tomás to play in. He also met his first horse and took his first carriage ride. And we witnessed a festival and procession for the Feast of Guadelupe that originated in one of Antigua’s Baroque churches. We finally returned home to Greenville on December 18 to an extraordinary welcome from our friends, and, of course, our first Christmas together a few days later.

When my children were Anne small (and now that they are Away in a Manger McMahan grown, they do this for their Submitted by Dottie Finn Grant and her families), we would set up brother, Will the nativity scene in a central part of the house, but minus Mary, on Christmas Joseph, the baby, the wisemen, and shepherds. We did leave the Eve in 1980. animals, because after all, they did belong at the stable. Baby Every Jesus was tucked away, but the shepherd tended his sheep in Christmas, some part of the house, and Mary, Joseph and the Wisemen Anne gets a traveled. The kids moved them all over the house until new set of Christmas Eve when Mary and Joseph "arrived" at the stable. Pajamas from On Christmas morning Baby Jesus was delivered to his place her mom… and later that day the shepherds and the sheep made their even to this entrance. The Wisemen kept traveling until Epiphany when day. they arrived with their gifts. It was a nice way of telling the Christmas story and letting the kids be involved. I always truly marveled at the many locations the various travelers managed to cover!! (And we never lost Baby Jesus or forgot him.) A Very Boykin Christmas Submitted by Joe Boykin

At the Boykin household, Christmas decorations are a major tradition. Certain ornaments must be placed on certain trees (we have 3!). At Thanksgiving, it is traditional for our daughters to have the responsibility of stringing popcorn for the Den tree. Another tradition that goes back to my father is the opening of one gift on Christmas Eve. He always wanted to open all of them then, but we talked him into only one. That gift has evolved to all the gifts, when unwrapped, are socks. In Touch Page 3 Special Holiday Issue — Winter

Oranges for Christmas These photos were taken at Christmas in1972. Although I was Submitted by Sherry Volrath only 2 years old at the time, I do have vivid memories of this Christmas. The MOST vivid memory is me running over to my stocking and pulling out one lowly little orange. Nothing else. I remember looking down in it, turning it upside down, but to no avail, Santa had only left me one orange. I remember feeling disappointed and thinking that I must have only been a little bad, (you know... that list you were always told about) because I got toys, just no candy or surprises. Or maybe Rudolph just ate it all before they got to my house. But, the fact was, my poor parents didn't realize until about midnight Christmas eve, when they were still up assembling all the toys, that they had forgotten to buy candy and stocking stuffers. All that was in the house to use was one orange. (Thank goodness there were no extra bundles of hickory's on hand!). I think it bothered them more than me, (although I am the one still talking about it...hmmm??). So needless to say, every year after that my stocking runneth over, and was always the first thing I checked on Christmas morning!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree... In my household, having a fake or artificial Christmas Tree Submitted by Betty Cook has never been an option. Only the real thing will do. It does not matter how cold it may get or how snowy or rainy it is, we always make the trek over hill and dale to find the perfect tree. In the process we have developed a family tradition and made some memories along the way. When I was a child, my dad, sister, brother and myself took the big sled through the snow to the neighborhood Christmas tree location behind the hardware store, about three blocks away. I remember the man who operated it every year had missing teeth but a warm and welcoming smile for all of us. In fact, he watched us all grow up. Some years it took some intense collaboration to find the perfect tree and other years, the really frigid years, it took about 10 minutes. We always bought one with short needles, a Douglas fir Then we headed home to meet Mom who opened the French doors and helped Dad get the tree up on the front porch where it sat for a couple of days. Afterwards, we had hot chocolate to warm up and some goodies. The first year my husband, Warren, and I were married we lived in a remodeled former maid's quarters on the top floor of an old Victorian house. There were 33 stairs to climb with one big tree that had medium needles, a Scotch pine But it was worth the effort. Our lovely Christmas tree went from floor to ceiling and wall to wall in a corner of our little nest. I so enjoyed turning out all the lights and just gazing at the decorated tree. Once our twin daughters, Julie and Jennifer, came along, the Christmas tree selection took on a new dimension. Decisions, decisions. The year we moved to New Concord, Ohio (1976) it really snowed a lot. It was a major team of two effort to carry a six foot tree and two 20 month olds in snowsuits, boots, hats and mittens at the same time and trying not to slip and fall in the small creek . But even the decorated tree could not make up for how homesick we all were that first Christmas away from family and friends. At the crack of dawn the day after Christmas we packed the kids, the toys and the dog in the car and drove home to Rochester, NY to see everyone. In 1980 we moved to Seneca, SC. It was 110 degrees the day we moved into our home in June and the last thing we thought about was where to find a Christmas tree. That first year we went to Blue Miller's Christmas Tree Farm near Walhalla. It was straight uphill until we spied our perfect tree and then straight downhill until we reached the station wagon. Whew! The next year Blue's was closed due to illness so we found our way to Norris, SC and the Merry Christmas Tree Farm. We have enjoyed tree hunting there ever since. Some years we have been in shirt sleeves it was so warm. Other years it has been absolutely frigid with a wind chill that made all of us shiver constantly and our teeth chatter . We learned that the height of the average tree depends directly on how much rain has fallen that year. The view of the mountains is spectacular out there and the hot chocolate hits the spot. They even have Charlie Brown trees for little folks. Since Jennifer got married and moved to suburban Atlanta in 2000, it has been Mom, Dad, Julie and some years a good friend of the family that have gone Christmas tree hunting together. Someone is always given the job of carrying the saw. Collaboration is still part of the selection process. Now there is a machine that shakes the tree before wrapping it with plastic netting for the ride home. The shaking part is a good idea. One year, a day after putting up the tree, the living room carpet was covered with dozens and dozens of baby praying mantis. They kept hatching for 24 hours. The dog went crazy chasing them. It was surreal and one we will never forget. Another year the girls hung too many ornaments towards the bottom of the tree at the height where they could reach. A few days later we were all downstairs in the family room watching TV when we heard a most awful, dreadful sound that is truly unique. When we ran upstairs there was the tree on the floor with broken ornaments everywhere. What a mess! Even though the girls are now 30, we still tie up the tree...just in case. This year, after we loaded the tree in the truck, the three of us called Jennifer and our grandson, Lanton, on the cell phone to tell them we found the perfect Christmas tree once again and were headed home for some hot chocolate and goodies. We know great grandma and grandpa were probably watching fondly from above and happy we were keeping the tradition of having a real Christmas tree alive and well. Now if only it would snow... In Touch Page 4 Special Holiday Issue — Winter

My Favorite Christmas Mystery One snowy Christmas Eve, many years ago, my mother let my little brother and me sleep Submitted by Denise James in her bed as we anxiously waited Christmas morning to arrive and all the wonderful presents Santa would leave under our tree. We tried to be so quiet and to really go to sleep. But, we kept hearing this noise from outside our mother’s bedroom window. Maybe it was our ages or the excitement we felt that night, but as we snuggled and giggled together, we heard the sound of sleigh bells and we just knew it was Santa! We tried peaking out of the window, but could never make out Santa or his sleigh and reindeer! We decided to be very quiet, intent on listening for him bringing in the presents, and as we lay there, we could hear rustling noises around the tree. My brother and I hardly slept that night and the next morning we couldn’t wait to tell our mother about hearing Santa and his sleigh bells. As all mothers will do, she grinned and exclaimed, “You did!” Eventually, as we grew a little older [sigh], we knew it was our mother making the noises around the tree, but we never found out who or what made the jingling of the sleigh bells!

Christmas With Lisa from Circulation!

The Maw Christmas Eve Tradition Something that we have done since my daughter was small is to drive Submitted by Rosanne Maw around different areas of town or in the county to see homes decorated for Christmas. This tradition is now carried on with our grandson who enjoys this as much as we do. Our trips have taken us to Porter Road in Pendleton which was always beautiful each year. The families along this road had beautiful displays in their yards and would add to it year after year. This is not being done much anymore by these families which is sad. Another display was off of Highway 88 out of Central. A lady and her mother had their yard decorated with all kinds of Disney characters, Santa Claus and many, many lights. Car loads of people visited there year after year but because of the older lady’s health, that was stopped about 2 years ago. We have found other areas that have now become the places to go. One is the light display in Anderson at a park on Lake Hartwell off of Highway 178. This raises money for Easter Seals in Anderson County. It costs $5 per car and is well worth the trip. We always visit the Bill Gillespie family (Southern Vinyl) display in Liberty. But our favorite is Middlecreek subdivision in Easley where there are some very beautiful expense homes and the decorations are just as spectacular as the homes. After that we come back to the house and have dessert. Yum!

Scottish Shortbread Submitted by Rosanne Maw ½ lb. butter, softened (2 sticks) ½ cup granulated sugar 2 cups plain flour Mix all ingredients together well. Spread dough into an ungreased 13 X 9 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool slightly then cut into squares and enjoy. Good with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Holiday Wishes The following are my feelings and wishes for you this Submitted by Joyce Peebles holiday season: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Let nothing you dismay! Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day; to save us all from Satan’s Power lest we would go astray! Oh, Tidings of Comfort and Joy, Comfort and Joy! Oh, Tidings of Comfort and Joy. In Touch Page 5 Special Holiday Issue — Winter

Motown Christmas Every Christmas Eve, my family and I go to my mother’s home for the evening. My mother Submitted by Yolanda Carter and my sister always prepare a table full of tasty treats and hors d'oeuvres. Many of our other family members, as well as family friends, join us as well. We sit around laughing, talking, and listening to great Motown Christmas music. Next, my sister reads a passage from the Bible to remind each of us of the love that Jesus has for all of us. Later, we play some Christmas word games, and wait for the stroke of midnight so that we can welcome Christmas! We exchange gifts and continue to enjoy each others’ company. This time is very special to me because of my mother. She always has extra gifts under the tree in case an unexpected guest comes by. She makes sure that everyone feels welcome, and no one leaves her home without feeling the joy of good fellowship and love. The spirit of Christmas is felt by everyone who attends.

Recipe for Crab Pie Family Gatherings For ten years, my family has gathered at Rocky Bottom, Submitted by Denise James Submitted by Teri Alexander Camp of the Blind

(http://www.nfbsc.net/rockybottom.html) . As my siblings Ingredients: married & started families, we quickly outgrew our own homes & 1 lb crabmeat had to look for a reasonable yet large facility. This camp couldn't 6 slices crumbled bacon be more perfect. It is nestled in the mountains up Highway 178 1 med onion finely chopped from Pickens. Some years we see snowflakes! There's a creek & ½ bell pepper very finely chopped a large pond nearby as well as a basketball court & putt-putt 1-½ cups of toasted breadcrumbs course. Six bedrooms upstairs & more downstairs if needed. A 2 eggs large great room with a conference sized kitchen makes it ideal for 2 tbsp Worcestershire our meals. So what do we do? How do we spend the time? Few drops of seafood seasoning or lemon juice We eat, eat, and eat some more. We generally stay up late playing (Optional: little salt, pepper, and/or accent) "spoons" and "shanghai". We recently started a tradition of Directions: having a silly string fight & last year, karaoke was the perfect end Clean shells from crabmeat to one evening. Mix all ingredients together This year will be especially Grease casserole dish special for us yet sad, too. We're Bake for 20 – 30 minutes until brown at around 3500 adjusting to the loss of my mother - "Nana" as the kids call her & my sister Alison; however, we have two sets of newlyweds to welcome to our Recipe Many of you seemed group. Misha & her husband Josh, Submitted by Joyce Peebles to enjoy the Bread and nephew Jeremy & wife Bowl Fondue I’ve Kayla. We'll try to dwell on the additions to the family as opposed to brought to the Administrative Office Drop-In, and the losses. I thought you might like to have the recipe: I hope that you have such traditions in your family. Rocky BREAD BOWL FONDUE Bottom has become a constant with our family. Four generations 2 Packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened of Alexanders will celebrate the season. We look forward to it all 1 package shredded 4-Cheese Mexican Blend year round & with the newlyweds, I look forward to more 1 1/2 cups Sour Cream additions to the family. BABIES GALORE.....in the near future, perhaps. Happy Holidays to all! 1 Cup chopped fully cooked ham 1/2 Cup chopped onion 1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce 1 Un-sliced loaf of Italian Bread (the harder type loaf)

Cut top fourth off loaf of bread, carefully hollow out bread, leaving a 1-inch shell. In a bowl, combine cream cheese and sour cream; stir in shredded cheese, ham, onion and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon mixture into bread shell. Replace top of loaf. Wrap loaf in two layers of foil. Place on to baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until filling is heated through. Unwrap loaf and place on serving platter. Remove top of loaf. Serve with vegetables or crackers. In Touch Page 6 Special Holiday Issue — Winter

Meeting Mary When I was about 10 years old my folks added one child to our family for a week at Submitted by Beth Helsel Christmas. Somehow they had gotten the name of a little girl just my age that needed special attention so she came to stay with us at Christmas. She was one of 17 children in a family that lived on the outskirts of my hometown. Her father had a back injury and couldn't work and her mother tried to make ends meet for that large family. Without doubt there was no extra money for Christmas presents so a local agency tried to find people in the community to give the children a really good Christmas. Though I don't remember her last name her first name was Mary. The first year that Mary stayed with us was a real revelation for me. We picked her up at her dwelling (calling it a house would be a major exaggeration) which appeared to have walls made of crates or boxes. Looking back now that seems pretty unlikely but that's what my 10 year old eyes saw, it was that insubstantial. There was nothing but a dirt track up to the place, there were kids everywhere inside and out, and her father was in bed in the middle of a great deal of chaos. It was all very strange to me but I had my mother with me so I wasn't particularly apprehensive. I can only imagine how brave Mary had to be to walk out of there with me and my mother who were total strangers. The first thing my mother did when we got home was to find a tactful way to bathe Mary and change her clothes. She was a very sweet and compliant child and we got along right from the start. For me it was like having a sister close to my age that I'd always wanted (my real sister was 8 years older than I was and no fun at all). We lived in a modest 3 bedroom house but it was a constant wonder to Mary. She was thrilled with running hot water, light that came on with the flick of a switch and she was totally awed by the telephone, though she had no idea how to use it. For the whole week Mary was just like one of the family. She went with us to parties and visits to friends and relatives; she helped with chores that Mother gave us and opened more presents than she'd probably seen in a lifetime. We were constant companions and she shared my room so it was like having a friend spend the night for the whole week. All too soon her visit was over and Mary had to go home, but she took lots of new clothes with her and food for her family. For the next few years Mary came back to us each Christmas. I don't remember when she stopped coming or why. We were both getting older and our worlds drifted apart. One day when I was home from college for Christmas break I was downtown visiting my father at work. He told me he had seen Mary working at the local dime store. She had recognized him and came over to give him a big hug. She was already the mother of several children. I went to the store to see if I could find her but her shift was over. I never saw her again. I can only hope that the family she had knew more advantages than the one in which she was raised. My time with Mary is a cherished Christmas memory. But my mother didn't limit her good deeds to Christmas. My family was the transportation and sole visitor for many years for one of my grandmother's friends who had no family. My father found a mark at our driveway that he claimed was a sign to drifters that food and clothing could be found at our house (in the 50s we were much less fearful of unknown people coming to the door for a handout). We always brought home stray and injured animals so my mother could find homes or assistance for them among her network of like- minded people. I will admit that Christmas is not my favorite time of year. For one thing I think there's too much of it. But it is a time to remind us to think of those in need. Let's not let that reminder fade with the holidays.

We’ll leave you with this adorable picture of Candy Herron, from Circulation, and many wishes for a

Editor: safe and joyous Fredda Mealor Assistant Editors: holiday from work! Steve Johnson Anne M. Grant