My cousin, Janice Connell, shared this memory of Christmas love and joy with me. I helped clean up the writing, but it’s her own voice.

I moved to Arizona in October of 2013 to reunite with my father and my daughter. I didn’t have much in the way of furniture, dishes, or actually, anything I needed to set up a house. I’d left Illinois with a suitcase, my dog, Baby, who had lived with me eleven years, and the clothes on my back.

I was 53 years old and really wanted to live alone, something I had never had the chance to do over the course of my life. When I arrived, my dad and stepmom, Dorothy, took me under their wings. They set me up with a doctor and took care of me. They helped me find a place to live, and helped buy all I needed to live on my own. My dad and I went to rummage sales, where he and Dorothy bought me furniture, a bed, dishes, literally everything I needed for my own home. He would often stop by my new house with food and we would just sit and talk. It was nice.

I always remember that first Christmas in Arizona. I didn’t have much money and there would be no tree, or decorations in my new home. It was OK, as I was just happy to have a place of my own. I did have fun helping Dad and Dorothy decorate the Christmas Cactus they had outside their home, and that was enough for me.

It wasn’t enough for my Dad, who knew I loved Nativity Sets. One day, as Christmas neared, Dad stopped by the house with a Christmas present and said I should open it right then. He was like a kid in a candy store beaming ear to ear when he handed me the package. I slowly opened the gift …. and …. he’d bought me a large Nativity Set! In addition to Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus, it had a barn and all the animals. There were three wise men and shepherds watching their flock. We put the set up together that first Christmas and I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as I was that day.

I have had the set for six years now. I have loved it more each year and display it every Christmas, no matter what. The barn broke during a subsequent move, but I still put Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus out, along with the wisemen and shepherds. Mary and Joseph don’t seem to mind the lack of shelter.

Dad passed away in March and this is my first Christmas without him. I love him and miss him every day. He made sure I had everything I needed and a lot of what I just wanted. No one needs a Nativity Set, but it was important to me to have one, and he knew it. I love this Nativity Set, and will always remember the look on his face when he gave it to me in 2013. He knew the meaning of Christmas and how to share it.

Addendum:

Janice Connell is my second cousin, the daughter of my cousin Pooch. Pooch was one of those people you always remember. Halfway between my age, and that of my own father, he provided some insights and stories about my dad I only learned later in life. If you want to read more about Pooch, here are a few other blogs about him.

June 1944. Dad and Pooch on D-Day. https://mnhallblog.wordpress.com/2016/08/19/dad-and-pooch/

Pooch and Stickball in the ‘40s. – https://mnhallblog.wordpress.com/2018/03/27/stickball%EF%BB%BF/

Pooch – A Eulogy. https://mnhallblog.wordpress.com/2019/03/19/pooch/