Midland Texas Christmas

I really miss quite a few things about Christmas in Midland Texas:

The Santa Window
First of all, I miss the Santa window house with its accompanying neighborhood. What seemed like an entire neighborhood (with the exception of one house labeled with a sign that said “Scrooge’s House”) used to put lights up and people would go driving through their streets to see all the lights. One of the houses in the neighborhood would have the window of its front room dedicated to a scene for a life-size Santa Claus. The house had a horseshoe driveway and they would let people drive through for a closer look. Whoever lived there was a very creative artist. The theme was different every year; sometimes it was football, sometimes it was for the troops, sometimes it was just standard toy making. I wish I had as perfect of a setup as that house and driveway did for such a display, but then there is no guarantee that I could be as imaginative in creating new scenes every year. I wish they had a website with pictures of all the old displays.

MRT
Next, I miss delivering the Midland Reporter Telegram newspaper on Christmas morning. My brothers and sisters and I would have to scurry past the toys and lights in our living room while pretending to obey the command to not look at any of it. Rolling newspapers and throwing them from the vehicle always seemed like the most unfair thing that could happen to a kid on Christmas morning. The excitement of knowing that when we got done delivering newspapers, it would officially be Christmas was unbearable. The build up and extra anticipation made everything that much better for me, although I used to just complain. Throwing papers also made me bitter towards postal employees. “‘Through rain, snow, sleet or hail’ except on holidays and extra stormy days. Oh and Sundays” was the amended slogan I gave to the postal workers as a youngster who had to deliver everyday, no matter what.

The Weather
Many kids get bikes or other outdoor toys and then can’t try them out without first shoveling snow or bundling up tight. In Midland this was never really a concern. Just put on a sweater and head outside with your new stuff. Only once can I remember it being colder and wetter than other times and it was iced over which made for extra fun. One year I remember my brothers and I being photographed for the Midland Reporter Telegram playing with a new basketball in 50 degree weather. I always wanted to wake up to a scene like Ralph Parker from “A Christmas Story” had on Christmas morning but let’s be realistic, playing outside was a lot more fun.