“Christmas- that magic blanket that wraps itself about us.: that something so intangible that I is like a fragrance… a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.”
By Augusta E. Rundelr
Like everyone else, I love Christmas. I think back to when I was little. We young cousins had our photo taken with an almost life-sized cardboard cutout of Santa drinking a bottle of Coca-Cola. I don’t know where Santa ended up but how I wish I had the cutout today. I also remember that Santa put a tangerine in the toe of each of our Christmas stockings. In those years, tangerines were a big deal.
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When I was teaching, it was all about singing in the choir at Midnight Mass at St. Kevin’s. I remember one Christmas Eve when it was snowing quite heavily. The police drove us part way down Columbia Road to help us get home after church at 1:30 a.m. or so. By the way, my good friend Eileen Burke’s sister, Betty Sullivan, was the youngest in the choir; I was the second youngest. I remember another Christmas Eve when there was also a terrible snowstorm. Our kids were quite young so we knew that we would not be able to walk them to St. Ann’s. I went to Midnight Mass. When I came home from church, I discovered that our area of Neponset had suffered a power outage. When I walked in my front door, there was a faint beam from a “dying” flashlight, barely lighting the stairs from the second floor landing. Santa had already come and Hubby had finally gone to bed.
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On Wed., Dec. 10, Hubby and I were invited to the Christmas Party for the Freeport/Adams Neighborhood Association. It was held at Peggy O’Neill’s Restaurant at 1310 Dorchester Ave. The place looked beautiful. There were Styrofoam snowflake decorations. In a corner of the dining area, there was a ten-foot tree bathed in white lights. It was gorgeous. In another corner of the room, there was a Santa on a table surrounded by white lights.
We were welcomed by pals Jane Matheson and Barry Mullen. We took seats and were immediately invited to go to the buffet. On our way, we said, “Hi” to Capt. Sexton of District C-11. We also had a chance to chat with Community Service Officer Mike Keaney before he had to go back on patrol. There was quite an assortment of food on a table: sausages, peppers, and onions; meatballs and ziti; garlic bread; and chicken and ziti. We also met Sgt. John Burns, who is the head of the Community Service office. I also met Billy Kelly, who did a great deal of the decorating at the restaurant. Kevin Barry came over and sat with us. Tracey Campbell, the daughter of the owner, kept us in Diet Coke. Tracey also told us that the restaurant had once been called “The 1310,” their street number on Dorchester Avenue. While we were eating, we watched the wall-sized TV. It was the biggest one I had ever seen. Tracey also told me that the restaurant sometimes hosts a painting brunch on Sunday afternoons. She told me that they were very successful. I also met Peggy Flynn, from Leedsville Street. After the police guests left, pal Jane Matheson was able to sit and chat with us. After running back and forth to Newburyport following the death of my niece Cheryl, it was so enjoyable to just sit and enjoy speaking with Jane, Barry, and Kevin. We thanked Tracey for being such a kind hostess and for serving such good food. Her 88-year-old Dad, John O’Neill, owns the restaurant. What a nice way to spend a cold evening.
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On Dec. 13, Hubby, Daughter Sue, and I drove to the Common Market in Quincy. There were lots of cars in the parking lot. We knew there would be quite a few people at the evening’s show because it was called “What Christmas Means to Me.” When we made it to the second floor, our pal Eileen Collins, who had ordered the tickets for us, was waiting to be seated. Right after we sat down, Dorothy Columbre kindly ordered Diet Cokes for all of us, to celebrate Christmas. The room was, indeed, filled, but, for this evening, there were quite a few youngsters. I think there was one group of 44 people attending.
There were two men and two women performers this evening. Sometimes they sang alone about their remembrances of Christmas. Other times, all four sang together. They sang some familiar songs: “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “Mr. Grinch,” “Holly, Jolly Chistmas,” “Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer,” and “Christmas Time Is Here.” Of course, the kids all sang “Rudolph” and “Mr. Grinch.” The quartet sang “”O Holy Night,” in both English and French.
Then the host asked all those who were born in December to raise their hands. There were not 12 so he enlisted a grandmother and a couple of volunteers. Each of the 12 people were given a part of the “12 Days of Christmas.” The first person was to fly like a partridge. The second one was to act like a turtle dove. The third was to act like a French hen. The grandmother had “five golden rings” and danced around the stage, holding her ring hand in the air. “Seven swans a-swimming” was hilarious; so was “11 Lords a-Leaping.” Everyone laughed and gave the participants a big round of applause. It was an enjoyable evening. We were asked to leave promptly because there was another show immediately following at 9 p.m. I never had a chance to get the names of the four performers.
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Thanks to pal Loretta, I learned that my long-time friend Ginny Biagiotti will be retiring from the Cedar Grove Cemetery at the end of this year. Loretta, the cemetery’s treasurer, announced Ginny’s retirement at the annual Christmas Mass on Sun., Dec. 21, in the Gilman Chapel at the cemetery. Ginny has provided her quiet, kind, compassionate, caring, competent counsel to thousands of people at the time of the loss of their loved one. The hugs she has given during her 35 years at the cemetery are too numerous to count but they always seemed to be at the right time and place. I was so happy to hear that, although she will miss her work and her friends at the cemetery, she will be able to spend more time with her family and friends and at her beloved St. Brendan’s and St. Ann’s churches. I hope to see you soon, Ginny.
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I was saddened to hear of the death of Dorothea (Norton) Pembroke, on Sun., Dec. 20, at age 84. Dottie was the wife of Michael for 60 years. She was the mother of Joan Morris, MaryEllen Deagle, Noreen Leahy, Carol Harrington, Eileen, Patricia, Jean, and Denis. She was also the mother of the late John “Jackie” Pembroke. She was the sister of Michael Norton, and the late Paul, Gerard, Phillip, and Marian Norton and Claire Swaider. Her funeral Mass was held on Christmas Eve morning, with burial following at the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Dottie was well known and well liked in the Pope’s Hill Neighborhood. The sympathy of all our area is sent to Mike and to all their children. She will be greatly missed.
I was also sorry to read of the unexpected death of Christakis Naoum on Dec. 16. He was the brother of Elizabeth “Betty” Naoum, who lived in the Neponset area before moving to Quincy. My sympathy is sent to Betty from her friends in Neponset.
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A delicious hint: if you can find them in your local store, buy a package of either Lemon or Lime Oreo Cookies. They are scrumptious. You will love them.
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Here is an Irish toast for the New Year: “In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, never in want.”
