CHRISTMAS EVE AT MY GRANDPARENTS
September 16, 2011. From Sue Fentress Austin as published in the Heritage of Currituck County 1670-1985
My maternal grandparents, Edgar and Minnie Brumley, were known to the grandchildren simply as "Papa Ed" and "Mimmie." I remember them best at Christmas time each year. During my childhood the night before Christmas was a special time at Papa Ed and Mimmie’s house. After supper, all their children - three daughters and two sons, plus their spouses and children - would begin to gather at the old homestead on Brumley Road. We all sat in the old "parlor room," the "good" sitting room seldom used except for Christmas gatherings. There was a constant going out and coming in of the grown-ups - very mysterious to us kids, All we knew was Santa was making an appearance, in person, later on that evening, as he did each Christmas since l could remember. All the children, upwards to a dozen as the years rolled by, were unusually quiet, no bickering or fussing.
Finally Papa Ed would say, "Well, it's about time for 'old Santa Claus to arrive," Sure enough there would soon be the sound of a bell, followed by loud thumping of boots on the front porch. Next, the hall door would burst open and there in a red suit, black boots and white whiskers would stand Santa, his back bent over by a sack bulging with games, puzzles, pull toys, guns, tea sets and dolls. He would come into the room and ask each child what they wanted and then hunt around in his sack for their treasure. Bikes and such were usually parked down the hallway or left on the front porch.
All the grandchildren except me, my sister and brother received their toys that night. We preferred that Santa bring ours while we slept so all we got were promises that he would see us later.
One of the most memorable Christmas Eve‘s was when Papa Ed ended up with a wet knee from an over excited granddaughter who decided Santa was more important than a bathroom visit!
With Santa's pack now empty, all the children’s faces aglow with
happy
smiles, it was the time for big kisses. Each child would go up to the
jolly red fellow and bestow a kiss on the bearded face — that was
usually his cue to give another HO-HO-HO and out the front door he
would disappear for yet another year.