My mother Edna passed away 10 years ago and her funeral was on Christmas Eve.
So, you would think I’d be feeling a bit sad in the middle of the Christmas festivities.
But it is the reverse.
Sure, I miss Mum. I actually do that every day.
I still go to ring her sometimes and I guess I will be in trouble if she ever answers.
Seriously, though, her passing at this time of year has brought back all the pleasant memories of my childhood at Christmas, which is kind of a nice way to remember loving parents.
For instance, it reminds me of the trip to the Wimmer’s Factory in Nambour to get crates of soft drink before we headed off to our family beach house in Anzac Avenue, Maroochydore, with the old pineapple truck laden with bikes, watermelons, pineapples, surfboards, kids and the dog – like the Clampetts out of The Beverly Hillbillies TV show.
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It reminds me of going to church with Mum at midnight on Christmas Eve and then trying to stay awake and watch Santa drink the beer and cake we left out, and the feed of prawns, with everyone waiting for me to take the biggest – no matter where they hid it.
On one occasion that we stayed on the farm for the holidays, Dad was plucking a duck that we were going to have for Christmas lunch.
It was stinking hot, he was having trouble getting the feathers out and I was riding my scooter up and down the garage floor. He told me not to go too close to him – so, of course, I did and ran over his toe.
Did I mention it was a steel scooter with no rubber on the wheels and was built like a mini Michelin Man?
He was not happy and chased me until I hid behind Mum.
The traditional lunch and how Mum fussed over us will always be with me: the plum puddings with coins hidden inside, the roast everything, and the fact that the rest of the day was basically over because we ate that much we could hardly move.
There was always love and laughter.
Never much money but we never seemed to go without anything.
So, I hope you all had a great Christmas. I wish you well and pray that you enjoy your memories and create some new ones.
Ashley Robinson is a columnist with Sunshine Coast News and My Weekly Preview. His views are his own.
