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“Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of year! When I think of Christmas, I first think of the journey
to Bethlehem, the Nativity, the Star, and the reason we celebrate Christmas – the birth of my Lord and
Savior, Jesus. It is a time to celebrate, to give and to love, a time for family, decorating, singing carols,
cooking and, yes, eating. For all these reasons, CHRISTmas is my favorite time of year!”
Casey Pitts is overwhelmed with childhood memories filled with warmth and happiness. “My parents
always made Christmas very special for my sister and me. We knew, first and foremost, the reason we
celebrated Christmas; but, just like any other children, we anticipated Santa Claus coming and the big
Sears catalog arrival so we could circle our wish-list and put stars beside what we really wanted! Mama
would have the presents wrapped early under the tree, and I would always talk Daddy into allowing me
to peek in the packages while Mama was cooking Sunday dinner. Every year, our family opened the gifts
that were under our tree on Christmas Eve night. Then, we were off to bed early so Santa would come. We
were always told he would not come if we were awake, and ‘if you do not believe, you will not receive!’
Of course, that made going to sleep very difficult!” Her favorite Christmas memory occurred the year
she received her driver’s license. “All I had been asking for was a car. Well, on Christmas morning, when
I walked into the family room, Daddy excitedly asked ‘Have you looked in the backyard yet?’ As I darted to
the back door, he calmly said, ‘Don’t bother, there’s nothing back there!’ Then he laughed! It wasn’t too
funny for me at the time.”
She still celebrates Christmas in a variety of ways. “Decorations go up late October to early November
and the shopping begins. In Latta, the first weekend of December kicks off with the Christmas Parade,
the Christmas Tour of Homes, and the Community Singers Christmas Concert. We also enjoy our church
Christmas cantata and other programs. Men within the community get together to cook for the entire
town at the Latta Pig Pickin’! Once this grand event has taken place, Christmas is right around the corner!”
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SHEMAGAZINE.COM
DECEMBER 2015
81