In Cedarfield tradition, the Pastoral Care Team created this compilation of holiday memoirs by team members and residents. We will share one a day through the holidays. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Dana Peterson, Team Member
When I was about six years old near Christmas time, I got my first pairof shiny black patent leather shoes. I loved those new black shoes andrefused to take them off. My oldest sister was home from college forChristmas, and I adored her.
That evening, my dad wanted to take me out Christmas caroling around theneighborhood with our neighbors and told me to get ready and dress warmly asthe temperature was below freezing. I got bundled up, but instead of putting onmy warm boots, I insisted on wearing my new shiny black shoes. It wasn’t a smartthing to do, but my dad wasn’t up for the argument. So off we went into the icy,cold night. We walked far and long around the neighborhood, which was on thewater, and I noticed the moonlight bouncing off the ice in the canal. It was thatcold. We sang all the favorite carols and enjoyed the fellowship and camaraderie ofall our neighbors.
So, after an hour of this, I was in tears and couldn’t feel my feet in those shinyblack shoes anymore. My toes and feet were frozen solid, and my dad had to carryme all the way home. He never got angry with me for not listening to him. Whenwe got back home, my tears were frozen on my face, and I couldn’t wait to getthose shiny black shoes off! My big sister just felt so bad for me and sat me downin the big chair by the roaring fire in the fireplace and rubbed my frozen, numbfeet until my blood thawed, and I got the feeling back in them again.I’ll never forget the love of my dad and oldest sister that night at Christmas sucha long time ago when they could have just as easily scolded me and said, “We toldyou not to wear them.”
As I stopped crying and moved my toes again, I remember my big sister saying,“You’ll never do that again.” She was right.
