Leader Special: Christmas

Dear children of Plattsburg and the surrounding area, did get your letters.

2022 has been a year of challenge even here at the North Pole and there are just a few days left on the calendar before Christmas Eve. My trip is well planned to cover the whole world even with all the current challenge.

After Christmas tree lights are glowing and you are all tucked in your bed, it won’t be long until I will be making my visit with those special Christmas presents. Have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Your friend, Santa

Lathrop Kindergarten Letters to Santa

Ms. Gentzell’s Class

Der Santa, How many Christmas tres u hav. I wunt a Barbie set for Christmas this year. I wil lev u cokes and mlk.

Love, Savannah

Der Santa How many Christmas tres u hav? I wunt a pokemon pack for Christmas. I wil lev u cokes.

Love, Matthew.

Der Santa, Did u send my elf? I wunt a rainbow friend purple toy for Christmas. I wil lev u cokes and mlk.

Love, Karsen

Der Santa, Did u send my elf? I wunt fake food for my kitchen for Christmas. I wil lev u cokes and mlk.

Love, Jayden

Der Santa, How many cokes do u eat? I wunt a 8 Second toy for Christmas. I wil lev u cokes and mlk.

Love, Audrey

Der Santa, How many toys do u hav to mak? I wunt a Barbie makeup set for Christmas.

I wil lev u mlk and cokes.

Love, Aria

Der Santa, How many cokes do u eat? I wunt a ball for Christmas. I wil lev u cokes and mlk.

Love, Harper

Der Santa, How many decorations do u hav? I wunt a elf and reindeer for Christmas. I wil lev u cokes and mlk.

Love, Marley

Der Santa, How many Christmas tres do u hav? I wunt a toy jet for Christmas. I wil lev u cokes and mlk.

Love, Blaise

Der Santa, How many Christmas tres do u hav? I wunt a Nintendo Switch for Christmas. I wil lev u a note.

Love, Emmett

Der Santa, How many Christmas tres do u hav? I wunt a toy car that is extra fast. I wil lev u cokes, mlk, and a note.

Love, Maxiums

Der Santa,

How many Christmas tres do u hav? I wunt a Barbie set for Christmas. I wil lev u cokes and mlk.

Love, Marybelle

Der Santa, How many Christmas tres do u hav? I wunt a elsa makeup set for Christmas. I wil lev u cokes and mlk.

Love, Ellie

Der Santa, How many Christmas tres do u hav? I wunt a big kitchen for Christmas. I wil lev u a note.

Love, Arwen

Der Santa, How many Christmas tres do u hav? I wunt a little elf on the shelf for Christmas. I wil lev u cokes and mlk.

Love, Kelsay

Der Santa, Do u hav 99 elfs? I wunt rainbow friend toys for Christmas. I wil lev u cokes and mlk.

Love, Riley

Der Santa, How many Christmas tres do u hav? I wunt rainbow friends for Christmas. I wil lev cokes.

Love, Brett

Ms. May’s Class

Der Santa, Hay do u mak prazinc? I wunt pole pokat. I wil lev you milk and koocz. Mere Krismis! Love, Bellamy

Der Santa, Ynut kimd us kookec bo u lik? I wunt a poact kac kombin. I wil lev you Diitt cook and mkdonlz. Mere Krismis! Love, River

Der Santa, Ho dos batman gat his wangs? I wunt a ridlr toy. I wil lev you mkdon frenc. Mere Krismas!

Love, Lane

Der Santa, Do u noy yor latest? I wunt Mcdonls. I wil lev you mcDonlds Frienc fri. Mere Krismas! Love, William

Der Santa, How doez yoy majc str wrk? I wunt cuolest boman ever. I wil leve you McDonld frenc fris and Diet coc. Mere Krismas! Love, Mason

Der Santa,

Haw r you so majucl?

I wunt vr glas. I wil lev you a beg mac. Mere Krismas! Love, Asher

Der Santa, Yot dos Mrs. Clos do? I wunt a gabe drlhays. I wil lev you milk and koocez. Mere Krismas! Love, Stella

Der Santa, Wut dus Mrs. Clos do? I wunt litl liv pets momu srpriz. I wil leve you milk and kooces. Mere Krismis!

Love, Landyn

Der Santa, How mine animals doo you se? I wunt Ntendo swtch and Sam. I wil lev you milk and kooces. Mere Krismis! Love, Wade

Der Santa, How do u fli? I wunt a gaby dlhouc. I wil lev you pazu and diat kok. Mere Krismis! Love, Tricilli

Der Santa, Do you fli? I wunt a litl live lizrd I wil lev you salid and diit cok. Mere Crismis.

Love, Savannah

Der Santa, Do u lik kokes? I wunt a skatbord. I wil lev you salid and Diit cok.

Love, Harper

Der Santa, Wut is ulr favrit kulr? I wunt a borb kampr. I wil lev you milk and koocez. Mere Krismis! Love, Rowan

Der Santa, Wich rander is yor favrit? I wunt a babe dol. I wil lev you milk and cooces. Mere Krismis! Love, Addise

Der Santa, Wut are yor favrit cooces? I wunt a litl liv lizrd. I wil lev you milc and coocez!

Love, Jordan

Der Santu, Doo u lic txtls? I wunt a jet. I wil lev u milk and coocez.

Love, Tucker

Dear Santa, I want an ipad. I will leave you pizza and ice.

Love, Kyle

Decker Construction Happy Holidays!

Ms. Holliway’s Class

Dear Santa, What is yor favrit fud? I hav bin a little bad. I wood like LOL dolz. I wil leev you jinjrbred cookeez and milk. Merry Christmas!

Love, Ella

Dear Santa, What is yor favrit kulr? I hav bin a tinee bit notee. I wood like a Jojo Siwa bo makr. I wil leev you unicorn kaks and milk. Merry Christmas!

Love, Kaelani

Dear Santa, What is yor favrit fud? I hav bin uzulee good. I wood like a Jojo Siwa bo macr. I wil leev you elf kookeez and hot choklit. Merry Christmas!

Love, Amelia

Dear Santa, What do the elvz eet? I hav bin uzulee nis. I wood like a hamstr. I wil leev you choklit chip kooceez and koc. Merry Christmas!

Love, George

Dear Santa, How do the randeer fli? I

hav bin a tinee bit good. I wood like a Robo Godzilla Lego set. I wil leev you Monstr Jam cooceez and milk. Merry Christmas!

Love, Samuel

Dear Santa, How old r you? I hav bin a litl bit good. I wood like a PS4. I wil leev you peetsu and cok. Merry Christmas!

Love, De’Mari

Dear Santa, Wut is yor favrit kulr? I hav bin uzulee a tinee bit good. I wood like Disnee Borbeez. I wil leev you choklit kooceez and wit milk. Merry Christmas!

Love, Lucy

Dear Santa, What is yor favrit kulr? What do the elvz eet? I hav bin good uzulee. I wood like a Jojo Siwa doll. I wil leev you Gabee coocez and hot choklit. Merry Christmas!

Love, Ariel

Dear Santa, Where did the randeer com frum? I hav bin a tinee bit good. I wood like a 4 weelr. I wil leev you clawn

kooceez and milc. Merry Christmas!

Love, Jeremiah

Dear Santa, Where did the randeer com frum? I hav bin a tinee bit bad and good. I wood like a toy tipridr. I wil leev you jinjrbred manz and choklit milk. Merry Christmas!

Love, Adalynn

Dear Santa, How do the randeer fli? Ihav bin a tinee bit bad. I wood like a bo makr. I wil leev you Santa kooceez and milk. Merry Christmas! Love, Nova

Dear Santa, What is your favorite color?

I have been good. I would like every single toy. I will leave you a name tag and a space cube and a whole entire bucket of worms.

Love, Kaleb

Dear Santa, I would like Sonic exe toys. I will leave you cookies. I have not been good. Bring me toys please!

Love, Lincoln

Ms. Zimmerman’s

Class

Der Santa,  Haw do rander fli? I wunt a dinosr. I will lev u mlk and cokez. Love, Jaxson

Der Santa,  Wer do u go on vacachn? I wunt an RC kor. I wil lev u mlk and cokez.

Love, Kale

Der Santa, Haw do u mak tos? I wunt a ba blade. I wil lev u cokez and mlk.  Love, Your Friend

Der Santa,  Haw do Elvs fli? I wunt a babe aliv. I wil lev u cokez and mlk.

Love, Aubree

Der Santa, Haw do u mak tos? I wunt a Peu Putrol hedkrtrs. I wil lev u mlk and cokez.  Love, Castin

Der Santa, Haw do u make tos? I wunt a tablit. I wil lev u

cokez and mlk.

Love, Samantha

Der Santa,  Wer do u go on vacashn? I wunt a tine rander. I wil lev u cokez and mlk.

Love, Charlie

Der Santa,  Haw do rander fli? I wunt a skitr. I wil lev u mlk and cokez.

Love, Tori

Der Santa, Haw do rander fli? I wunt a Gabie dalhaus. I wil lev mlk u and cokez.

Love, Christina

Der Santa, Wer fo Elvs go on vacachn? I wunt a Pekaju. I wil lev u mlk and cokez.

Love, Jace

Der Santa, Wer do Elvs go on vacachn? I wunt a rel fon. I wil lev u cokez and mlk.

Love, Harper Der Santa,

Haw do u hav majic?

I wunt a jron. I wil lev u cokez and mlk.  Love, Emmett

Der Santa, Wer do Elvs go on vacachn? I wunt a Cas stufd animal. I wil lev u cokez and mlk.

Love, Hadley

Der Santa, Haw do rander fli? I wunt a rel gutr. I wil lev u mlk and cokez. Love, Caidden

Der Santa, Haw do u git majic? I wunt a tampolen. I wil lev u cokez and mlk.

Love, Ben

Der Santa, Wer do Elvs go on vacachn? I wunt a cuddle rander. I wil lev u cokez and mlk.

Love, Makena

Der Santa, Wer do Elvs go on vacachn? I wunt a tablit. I wil lev u mlk and cokez.

Love, Brooklynn

Goppert Financial

Proud supporters of our students, their education, and their bright futures!

East Buchanan Kindergarten Letters to Santa

Mrs. Millers’s  Kindergarten Class

Dear Santa, I would like a rel fon. I would like prinsis prs. Are you excited for Christmas?

Your Friend, Anniston A.

Dear Santa, I would like an RC Cr. I would like RANDER. What kind of cookies do you like?

Your Friend, Caden D.

Dear Santa, I would like a plrinsis sotkas. I would like an Alxa Awl. Do you have a good Christmas?

Your Friend, Lottie M.

Dear Santa,

I would like a new hay bale and tractor. I would like  a horse. Can I drive your racecar?

Your Friend, Denver E.

Dear Santa, I would like  a prinses prs. I would like kulr book. How fast can your sleigh fly?

Your Friend, Elizabeth R.

Dear Santa, I would like a dinosor. I would like a remote cr. Do you like eggnogg?

Your Friend, Hayes M.

Dear Santa, I would like an XbOx. I would like an IPOD. Do you like to fly?

Your Friend, Grayson H.

Dear Santa, I would like a play toilet. I would like a Barbie car.  What is your favorite reindeer? Your Friend, Jordan M.

Dear Santa, I would like _a toyrokitship. I would like chranu. What kind of clothes do you wear everyday? Your Friend, Lane L.

Dear Santa, I would like a tede bar. I would like barbie sntcas. Why do you give some many presents to people?

Your Friend, Larissa E.

Dear Santa, I would like a roy rodolf. I would like a robot. How do you travel with your sleigh?

Your Friend, Lillian K.

Dear Santa, I would like a sestr. I would like a brbe letl has. What do your elves look like?

Your Friend, Piper F.

Dear Santa,

I would like  a dol. I would like a randir. Where did you get your magic?

Your Friend, Sarah R.

Dear Santa, I would like a slep mask. I would like yonikorn slepogbag. What is your middle name?

Your Friend, Sarah O.

Mrs. Ray’s  Kindergarten Class

Dear Santa, I would like a  bklhitk. I would like a nkf gom. Can I take a picture with you?

Your Friend, Liam A.

Dear Santa, I would like a xb. I would like a prsuvmocrs. Can I

get an xbox 1? Your Friend, Elias C.

Dear Santa, I would like a men forwl. I would like a hvbu. How are the reindeer doing?

Your Friend, Levi D.

Dear Santa, I would like a LOL. I would like a bik. Can I have one of your reindeer?

Your Friend, Izzy E.

Dear Santa, I would like a cartoy. I would like a gamp. Is Rudolph guiding your sleigh?

Your Friend,  Adalyn H.

Dear Santa, I would like a mrbw1. I would like a ps4. Which reindeer is your favorite?

Your Friend, Gavin J.

Dear Santa, I would like a gosbdb. I would like a BTMN. Do you like cookies?

Your Friend, Joshua K.

Dear Santa, I would like a FOTBL. I would like a truc. How are the reindeers?

Your Friend, Wyatt M.

Tinny Automotive Have a safe Christmas!

Dear Santa, I would like a lego castle. I would like marvel stuff. Do you a pet kitty cat?

Your Friend, Konnor P.

Dear Santa, I would like a toy. I would like a rascar. Do you like Christmas music?

Your Friend, Graham S.

Dear Santa, I would like a LOL. I would like a vit. Can I be an elf?

Your Friend, KinzLee W.

Dear Santa, I would like a ahvbod. I would like a hadpbit. Can I be one of your elves?

Your Friend, Andi W.

Don’t forget to leave milk and cookies out for Santa!

Mrs. Guyer’s  Kindergarten Class

Dear Santa, I would like a untiton. I would like a Santa. Do the reindeer fly?

Your Friend, Alena A.

Dear Santa, I would like a tablet. I would like a buk. What is your favorite color?

Your Friend, Selah B.

Dear Santa, I would like a rabfrnz. I would like a ei. How old are you?

Your Friend, Spencer B.

Dear Santa, I would like a rmot kuntrol snak. I would like

more bokugon. How do you not get cold when you deliver presents?

Your Friend, Brooks H.

Dear Santa, I would like Christmas jamez. I would like a desk chr. What does the North Pole look like?

Your Friend, Kenna H.

Dear Santa, I would like a stufe. I would like a babe lam. Will you put candy in my stocking?

Your Friend, Aubryanna J.

Dear Santa, I would like gutr. I would like tou cr. What is your favorite candy?

Your Friend, Lily K.

Dear Santa, I would like a Barbe Drem Hous. I would like a fijet dol. How are the elves? Your Friend, Madeline M.

Dear Santa, I would like a tran. I would like crs. How’s the North Pole? Your Friend, Jackson N.

Dear Santa, I would like kars. I would like a tran. How much reindeers are there?  Your Friend, Rudy S.

Dear Santa, I would like an emo. I would like a swich Will you have a merry Christ-

mas?

Your Friend, Kyeden S.

Dear Santa, I would like a nrf gun. I would like WWE stuf. How did you get your reindeers?  Your Friend, Owen S.

Dear Santa, I would like a dinosor. I would like some cunstrucsin trux. What is your favorite soda pop? Your Friend, Max W.

Dear Santa, I would like a swich. I would like a LOL doll. How is the North Pole? Your Friend, Juniper W.

Hales Heating and Cooling HO HO HO

Mrs. Dunivan’s Class

Dear Santa, I like you. How is Rudolph? I want a hot wheels track.

Love, Calvin B.

Dear Santa, How is Mrs. Claus doing? I want a Uma doll for Christmas.

Love, Laila B.

Dear Santa, How’s Rudolph doing? I want a LOL doll.

Love, Runlynn C.

Dear Santa, How’s the reindeer? I want a unicorn.

Love, Ellie E.

Dear Santa, How are you, Santa? I want a Barbie camper that I can ride in.

Love, Addison F.

Dear Santa, How is your day? I want a Squishmellow and I love Santa.

Love, Shelby G.

Dear Santa, How’s Rudolph doing? How are you doing? I miss you. I want an Opulus and a hoverboard.

Love, Henry K.

Dear Santa, How is Rudolph doing? I want a Squishmellow and a Magic Mixie.

Love, Madison L.

Dear Santa, I want to know how Rudolph is doing. I want a Magic Stylophone and a Squishmellow.

Love, AJ M.

Dear Santa, How is Blitzen doing? I want a Santa hat and a sleigh bell.

Love, Mackenzie O.

Dear Santa, How is Rudolph doing? I want a toy car and a toy train.

Love, Jaxon P.

Dear Santa, Do you have a reindeer named, Olive? I want a nerf viper, slime, and a yo-yo.

Love, Wesley R.

Dear Santa, Do you have a reindeer named, Fireball? I want a nerf viper, slime, and a monster truck.

Love, Bridger S.

Dear Santa, How is your reindeer? I want an Imaginex T-rex, slime, and I want a nerf

pistol.

Love, Gunnar S.

Dear Santa, How is Mrs. Claus? I want an RC car.

Love, Khi W.

Dear Santa, How is Rudolph doing? I want a LOL surprise and a Magic Mixie.

Love, Gracelynn W.

Robert’s Class Christmas Wishlist

Knox wants PJ Max Toys for Christmas

Oliver wants a Nintendo Switch for Christmas

Celtic wants a Lemonade Pillow for Christmas

Rylee wants a Car Set for Christmas

Lia P. wants a Gumball Machine for Christmas

Traxten P. wants an iphone for Christmas

Randall P. wants a Construction Set for Christmas

Violet S. wants a Gymnastic Set for Christmas

Kember S. wants Slime for Christmas

Bowen W. wants a Double-Seated Tractor for Christmas

Mrs. Thiessen’s Class Christmas Wishlist

Charlee H. wants a pick n pop bubble drop for Christmas.What do you reindeer eat?

Addie R. wants a giant barbie house and a new swingset. She wants Santa to know she likes it when he brings presents to her.

Lilly M. wants you to bring her bubble gum for Christmas.

Ophelia would like Santa to bring her a gumball machine for Christmas.

Starla H. wants a toy T Rex for Christmas.

Lily L wants an LOL doll for Christmas and wants

Santa to know she really likes that you bring kids gifts. How many reindee are there?

Nora E. wants you to bring her a new LOL for Christmas.

Dylan A. wants you to bring him a skateboard for Christmas and wants you to know he loves you.

Hudson B. wants you to bring him a dirt bike for Christmas.

Greyson D. wants you to bring him a toy cop car that can drive by himself and when his parents call you next time, he wants to talk to you.

Georgia T. wants an icee machine like that they have at the movie theater and she wants

Plattsburg Kindergarten Letters to Santa Merry Christmas, Tigers!

to tell you she is trying to not fight with her sister and kinda not.  Did Mrs. Clause bake you any cookies yet?

Devin L. wants Santa to bring her an LOL doll that has a pool. I want Mrs. Clause to get me the lock letters from school to have at home. Where do your reindeer sleep?

Hank would like Santa to bring him new football gloves. I am going to put cookies out for you on Christmas eve, do you still like chocolate chip?

Emmerson G. would like Santa to bring new playdough, craft stuff and an orange orange doll. How many elves do you have?

Ms.

PETERSON SPACE

FORCE BASE, Colo. — Defending North America is the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) #1 priority.

NORAD monitors and defends North American airspace 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

On December 24, NORAD has one additional mission: that of tracking Santa Claus as he makes his way across the globe, delivering presents to children.This is NORAD’s 67th year tracking Santa and it’s a tradition the Command is proud to continue each year.

The NORAD Tracks Santa website (www.noradsanta.org) launched on December 1. It will feature Santa’s North Pole Village, which includes a holiday countdown, games, movie theater, holiday music, webstore, and more. The website is available in eight languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Chinese.

The official NORAD Tracks Santa app is also in the Apple App and Google Play stores, so parents and children can count down the days until Santa’s journey on their smart phones and tablets. Tracking opportuni-

ties are also offered through social media on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, as well as on partner platforms: Bing, Amazon Alexa and OnStar.

Starting at 4 a.m. EST on December 24, website visitors can see updates as Santa makes preparations for his flight. Then, at 6 a.m. EST, trackers worldwide can call to inquire as to Santa’s whereabouts by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-HiNORAD (1-877-446-6723) where they will either speak with a live phone operator or hear a recorded update.

NORAD Tracks Santa is truly a global experience, delighting generations of families everywhere. This is due, in large part, to the efforts and services of numerous program contributors.

NORAD is a United States and Canada bi-national organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for North America. NORAD prevents air attacks against North America, safeguarding the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, unwanted, and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within these airspace.

Plattsburg License Office

Have a great New year!

Christmas Memories from Oakridge residents!

Mary Barnes

Mary Barnes grew up in rural Lathrop, and through she spent time in Texas, Washington, Kansas City and St. Joseph, she spent most of her life around the Former Mule Capital of the World.

“When I was a kid, for my age, a lot of people didn’t have things,” she said. “But we had good Christmases. I know my momma and daddy had to sacrifice a lot, probably, to get us what we wanted. But I can never remember not having a good Christmas.”

Mary recalled when she was maybe seven or eight when she received a bundle of great gifts for Christmas, but a neighbor girl hadn’t received anything. The girl said her brother had gone down the stairs that night and likely scared off Santa. Feeling bad, Mary picked out one of her best gifts.

“Santa got things mixed up,” she recalls telling the neighbor girl. “Santa left your Christmas at our house.” Years later, Mary’s mother told her how proud she was of her.

Mary married and had children, who had children of their own. On Christmas morning, she and her husband would wait until their daughter and son-in-law had fun opening presents with

their three children, then visit them around 10 a.m.

“I made these biscuits that were called ‘milehigh,’” she said. “I’d have them made but I wouldn’t cook them until I got there. (My daughter) had this big skillet and she’d brown the sausage, but she wouldn’t make the gravy. So when I got there I’d stick the biscuits in the oven and make the gravy. We’d have that every Christmas morning and they would just look forward to it.”

In the years after her husband passed, she stopped doing it, but one of the grandkids recently let her know how missed that Christmas tradition has become.

Rita Kilgore

Rita grew up in and around Plattsburg, but when she was really young, they lived in the Ozarks, and she loves that region to this day.

“I think anyone who goes there and spends any length of time at all will come away with a positive attitude toward that part of the country,” she said.

Times weren’t always the best, and Christmas presents weren’t a sure thing. Her parents, Herman and Katie, didn’t make any bones about it – if times got better, there’d be more under

the tree.

“If you got any presents at all, you felt like you were one of the lucky ones,” Rita said. “And we didn’t feel shorted by that. We knew our parents loved us and they gave us what they could afford.”

The true present for Rita was being among those children lucky enough to have two great parents supporting them.

“At that time, you really don’t consider it an important issue,” she said. “But as you get older, you realize if you had good parents who looked after you and took care of you... You realize the importance of it.”

Over the years, different loved ones and friends would enter their lives, and others would pass on. Rita learned the important thing was to keep them with you in other ways.

“As time goes by, you lose one or two people who were important to you, whether sickness found them,” she said. “We had to deal with the fact that someone wasn’t with us that year, but that never stops you from remembering them.”

Peggy Shoemaker

There’s perhaps no one as popular at Oakridge this Christmas as Peggy Shoemaker. One of her for-

mer neighbors and her kids brought Peggy an entire tray of cookies to mark the Christmas season. Another friend brought her candy, and yet another brought her chocolate (even though they knew she isn’t supposed to have it).

She’s been quick to offer her stash of goodies to anyone with a sweet tooth.

“Maybe by Christmas it will all be gone.” she laughed.

Peggy grew up in Kansas, the daughter of a preacher. They moved around some; she started high school in Cape Girardeau, Mo., but graduated in Maryville. She can still remember the cedar trees they used for Christmas down south and how prickly they could be. She can’t recall putting lights on them, but rather maybe a few strings of popcorn.

She became a farmer’s wife when she married her husband, Wilbur, and whether it was with their son and daughter, or later the grandchildren, or just with Peggy, he made sure they had a real tree each year. One year, despite the winter weather, he was determined to go with one of the grandchildren to get a tree, and the duo came back with one that was coated in ice (she made sure it stayed on the porch until it thawed out).

Another year, after dropping their daughter off at college in Kansas, they passed a couple flatbed trucks loaded with trees on the turnpike. A few miles further, they noticed one of the trees had gotten loose and was left on the side of the road.

“I said, ‘Gee, I wish we were going that direction, we’d just pick up that tree.’” she said. “It turns out we were right at a place where we could get off the turnpike. So we went around and picked up the tree.”

Their touring car was mighty cramped by the tree, as the stump rested in the back of the car and the dainty top sat between them up front.

“It took up the whole care almost,” she said. “The odor from that tree was so great.”

Mary Baxter

Mary Baxter has figured out a valuable secret.

“I don’t have birthdays,” she said. “They make you old.”

Mary grew up in Kansas City and recalls the biggest Christmas of her childhood – she received a doll whose head could be switched so the doll could “grow,” and her brother received a big toy truck.

“We didn’t have all of

the goodies they have now,” she said. “If we got one or two gifts, we were very happy.”

Christmas was better when she was older and celebrated with her children. Christmas Eve would begin at one of her favorite places, Montgomery Ward, where she worked for 45 years. She started there when the famous catalogue was still in circulation, and recalls fondly receiving a copy of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from the writer, Robert May (a Montgomery Ward employee who wrote it specifically for the beloved business).

“Everybody was very happy,” Mary said. “We’d be laughing. Nobody was down. We enjoyed Christmas. Our bosses enjoyed it and we had good bosses there.”

That night, some neighbor friends without children would join them for the celebration and dinner. One would dress as Santa. The kids were sent to bed but woken up soon after, told that Santa had already shown up and left their presents. They’d open the presents there and then so all of the neighbors could take part in the Christmas celebration.