Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 51

The family of Eula Walters' childhood was close at all times of the year. Granddaughter
Lillie Ketterman's new artwork (left) depicts Santy on a good day. Family photos above
show a happy, young Eula. From left: In center, with glasses; with coveted black baby
doll; and foreground as the family's youngest girl at time of photo.
" Santy cusses just like Daddy does! "
John exclaimed.
My most memorable Christmas of
all occurred the year I was about to turn
seven. We had waited till past our bedtime
and the old fellow hadn't appeared. Reluctantly,
we went to bed.
Just as sugar plums began dancing in
our heads, our bedroom door squeaked
open and Santy Clause walked in. Shushing
us with a finger to his lips, he began
his tale.
" My sleigh is parked near the Blue
Ridge Parkway, by the barn, " he told us.
" My elves are minding the reindeer who
are stomping to take you for a ride. If you
pile into the sleigh, they will fly you up the
parkway and sail over your house. "
We scrambled from our beds, wideeyed
and ready! Then we remembered
that our coats were in Mother and Daddy's
room. We couldn't go out in the cold
dressed as we were. To make up for our
disappointment, Santy dumped his sack
of toys out on our bed. We were so busy
grabbing our own that we didn't notice
he had left the room till we heard the
scraping of hooves, elfin laughter, a red
light bobbing in the air, as Santy Clause
shouted out, " Merry Christmas to you
all, and to all a good night! " How could
such a Christmas Eve ever be forgotten!
The end of Santy Clause at our house
was just as dramatic as the beginning.
One hot July day when I was 9, John
and I were snooping in the attic of one
of the outbuildings that Daddy loved to
build. Out of a dusty box, almost hidden
by rags, we pulled a Santy suit, pointed
hat, beard and all. We quickly dressed
John in the suit, stuffed rags in the middle
and ran to find our parents to show
them how clever we were. One look at
their unhappy faces told us we had made
a big mistake. John handed the suit to
Daddy who walked away with it, never
to be seen again.
If only they had known that we were
completely innocent, not realizing what
we had stumbled upon. Sadly, Santy never
again visited us on Christmas Eve.
The next Christmas, Santy was put to
rest for me, once and for all. On Christmas
Eve 1954, we all climbed into Daddy's
new-to-him pickup for a ride down
the Blue Ridge Parkway into town. We
drove into our little town of Galax just as
the coming darkness was lit by the most
amazing sight we had ever seen. The entire
town was ablaze with lights. Street
poles, signs and store fronts were magical.
I held Mother's hand tightly as we
walked the streets. A tiny tea set in the
window of Vass-Kapp Hardware store
caught my eye. Mother told me I could
have it, but that Santy would not be able
to bring me anything. I quickly agreed,
and sleepily rode home, gazing at the
millions of twinkling stars from the open
back of the pickup.
Suddenly, I knew.
There is no Santy Clause. I was holding
him in my arms. I didn't know whether
to laugh or cry, so I fell asleep.
The next morning I woke,
older
and wiser. The gifts under the tree were
marked for our new baby brother and
signed from Santa. A new generation of
Christmas traditions had begun.
I'm sure that my four younger brothers
and sisters made many good Christmas
memories of their own, but I will
forever treasure my own memories of
those early Santy Clause Christmases of
my past.
Suddenly the quiet night burst forth with sounds of yelling, tumbling, ohs and
ouches. And what even sounded like curse words. We ran outside to see Santy
tumbling down the hill, and toys flying every which way.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 51
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024
