My first Christmas in Beaver was a very lonely and disappointing one. I had asked Orville if we could have a Christmas tree (everyone else seemed to be getting one). He said, "what for?". With just the two of us I guess he thought it was wasted effort. On Christmas morning he went outside to do his chores--milking cows, feeding cattle, etc. When he came in for breakfast he found a parcel by his plate. I felt quite excited about it. I had bought him some socks and a tie. He looked at the package for a moment then said, "What is this?" I said, "Open it," which he did. When he saw that it was a present for him he acted as though I had hurt his feelings. I think he felt like I was putting him on the spot because he hadn't thought to buy me anything. I believe Orville's parents and he had not remembered birthdays or anniversaries or holidays for years and were out of the habit.
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| The Telluride, Beaver, Utah |
We had been invited by his cousin, Lillian Thompson, to have Christmas dinner with them. They were living at the Telluride station in the canyon then (Beaver's power plant).
It was a beautiful drive up to the
upper Telluride and their house was so cozy and warm. They had a Christmas tree and their three little boys had about all they could wish for. Lillian had a little gift under the tree for me and I was so touched by her thoughtfulness. I had to shed a few tears. It was childish of me, but I had missed the warmth of other Christmas's and also the old, familiar faces. We didn't have much in our growing-up years but there was always the preparations of trimming the house with holly and mistletoe and colored paper chains, the making of Christmas puddings and the expectancy of a small gift of some kind. I made a promise that if I could help it, there would never again be another empty Christmas, and there never has been.
My first Christmas in Beaver was a very lonely and disappointing one. I had asked Orville if we could have a Christmas tree (everyone else seemed to be getting one). He said, "what for?". With just the two of us I guess he thought it was wasted effort. On Christmas morning he went outside to do his chores--milking cows, feeding cattle, etc. When he came in for breakfast he found a parcel by his plate. I felt quite excited about it. I had bought him some socks and a tie. He looked at the package for a moment then said, "What is this?" I said, "Open it," which he did. When he saw that it was a present for him he acted as though I had hurt his feelings. I think he felt like I was putting him on the spot because he hadn't thought to buy me anything. I believe Orville's parents and he had not remembered birthdays or anniversaries or holidays for years and were out of the habit.
It was a beautiful drive up to the upper Telluride and their house was so cozy and warm. They had a Christmas tree and their three little boys had about all they could wish for. Lillian had a little gift under the tree for me and I was so touched by her thoughtfulness. I had to shed a few tears. It was childish of me, but I had missed the warmth of other Christmas's and also the old, familiar faces. We didn't have much in our growing-up years but there was always the preparations of trimming the house with holly and mistletoe and colored paper chains, the making of Christmas puddings and the expectancy of a small gift of some kind. I made a promise that if I could help it, there would never again be another empty Christmas, and there never has been.
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