CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

I am a baby boomer, born in 1946. My Mom was a stay at home mom, like most mom's of that era, and my Dad worked for the same company, Western Electric, until he retired after 35 years at the age of 55. My brother and I attended St. Rita's Parochial School and along with reading, writing and arithmetic we got a heavy dose of religion. That was a different time and place compared to today and calls to mind many fond memories. Spending our first Christmas on Bainbridge Island after almost 30 years on Kings Mountain brought these memories into sharp focus.

Christmas was a big deal at St. Rita's with both secular and religious activities. Sometime after Thanksgiving the entire school assembled in the parish auditorium and watched The Miracle on 34th Street. We also practiced Christmas Carols which we would sing at the 9:00 AM Children's Mass. In the 50's and 60's St. Rita's was a big parish. On Sundays Masses were held at 6:30 AM, 7:15, 8:15, 9:00 (the children's Mass) 10:00, 11:00 and 12:15 PM. We were expected to sit with our class and the nun that taught us for this 9:00 AM Mass.

Unlike today with the Christmas Season starting after Halloween our Christmas season began after Thanksgiving and then it was a slow start. My family put Christmas lights in the windows and hung a wreath on the front door; but the tree was a different story. I think my brother and I truly believed, as did all our friends, in Santa Claus until probably the 3rd grade. Prior to Christmas my Mom would be busy baking cookies; but the house was not really decorated. However; on Christmas morning my brother and I woke up to a decorated house, a tree trimmed and sparkling with lights and tinsel and our Christmas Garden with our American Flyer trains and of course, piles of presents. How did Santa do all this?

Years later our parents shared with us how "Santa" accomplished so much at our house. On Christmas Eve after my brother and I hung our stockings and put out milk and cookies for Santa we promptly went to bed as Santa did not visit homes where children were still awake. This was when our parents went to work. The Christmas Garden, a 4 by 8 foot winter village scene complete with houses, snow, and the American Flyer trains was assembled, wired and set up by my father. My mother trimmed the tree and wrapped all the presents. My parents shared that on some occasions they would just be finishing everything and it would almost be daylight. On one Christmas morning they heard me and my brother about to leave our bedroom and they told us that Santa had not yet been to our house and we better go back to sleep ! Hearing these stories I understood why my parents liked to just sit around on Christmas Day and relax .... they were tired having gotten little or no sleep on Christmas Eve!

After Sunday Mass my brother and I spent the day emptying our Christmas stockings and playing with our gifts and trains. By early evening we had Christmas dinner. Since we always had a roast turkey at Thanksgiving on Christmas it would be a baked ham with mashed potatoes, vegetable side dishes and dinner rolls. Of course desert would be an assortment of Christmas cookies that my Mom had baked and maybe a homemade fruit cake. It was always a most enjoyable day.

The days immediately after Christmas we visited family, especially our grandparents. My brother and I always enjoyed these visits because it meant more presents and more cookies and candy. My paternal grandmother made excellent Russian Tea cookies and kept our glasses full of Pepsi Cola. My maternal grandfather introduced us to the tangy taste of ginger ale as he used ginger ale in his high ball cocktails. These visits also gave my brother and me the opportunity to visit with aunts, uncles and our cousins. At my Grandmother's the adults would sit around the dining room table and us kids would gather in the living room and watch television, share comic books and stuff ourselves with treats and sweets. These were good times that I will always remember.

Merry Christmas Everyone,

bob

THOMAS MICHAEL SEABY
1949 - 2009

Thomas M. Seaby, husband to Judith (nee) Coleman Seaby, father of Kimberly Seaby Smith and Kristin Seaby, grandfather to Jakob and Dylan Smith and brother of Robert J. Seaby passed away on Tuesday, October 20th at the age of 60.

My brother, Tom, was born in Baltimore City on March 20, 1949. He attended St. Rita Parochial School and Dundalk Senior High School. After graduating from high school Tom began a career working for the state of Maryland. In August of this year he retired from his position as a Maryland Transportation Safety Inspector. Tom spent his entire life in the Dundalk community most recently residing on Washington Rd. In his spare time Tom was an active amateur radio operator and enjoyed the company of his fellow "ham" radio operators. He enjoyed trips to the Western Maryland countryside, collecting antique pocket watches and the company of the family's cats and dogs.

He will be missed by his family and many friends and remembered as a big man with an even bigger heart.

Family

Although the news has been full of stories and topics that ordinarily would have had me offering my opinions and comments, I have been busy with family health issues. My father was dealing with heart problems and my brother is battling cancer. On July the 30^th my father lost his battle; but my brother continues with chemo therapy and radiation. Dad’s passing was sudden. Around noon on the 30^th I spoke with him and he told me he was dealing with a clogged kitchen sink. He was in good spirits and we had a lively conversation. At the end of the call I told Dad I would call him over the weekend. His usual response was “Call anytime … I’m always here”.

My niece, Kim, made her scheduled visit to see my Dad later that day to help him set up his meds for the week and just check in on him. She found him upstairs. He had had a heart attack in the hours after my telephone call and before her arrival. She made the 911 call but Dad was already gone. It has been difficult for family because Dad’s passing was so sudden; but I suppose it was a blessing for him. These last months he had become increasingly worried about his ability to remain independent and continue to live in his own home. Because of Kim’s involvement Dad was able to stay in his home and keep his independence and dignity. He was loved and he will be missed.

Robert Anthony Seaby

1924 - 2009

Robert A. Seaby, husband to the late Patricia Ann (nee) Graham, father of Robert James and Thomas Michael, grandfather to Kimberley Smith, Kristin Seaby, Lauren Seaby, Brian Seaby and Matthew and Devin Davis and Great Grandfather to Jakob and Dylan Smith passed away on Thursday July 30th at the age of 85.

Mr. Seaby was born in Baltimore City on January 19, 1924. He attended Sacred Heart Parochial School and Baltimore Polytechnic High School graduating in 1942. Immediately after graduating from “Poly” Mr. Seaby began working for the Western Electric Company at Point Breeze. He entered the U.S. Army in March of 1943 at the age of 19. He was assigned to the 976^th Field Artillery Unit with the 5^th Army and saw action at Anzio and Monte Casino. Mr. Seaby was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart for the injuries he received while serving in Italy.

Upon his discharge from the Army in 1945 he married his high school sweet heart, Patricia Ann Graham. Mr. Seaby returned to work at Western Electric as a draftsman and he retired as a mechanical engineer in 1978. He and his wife Pat resided for most of their lives in Dundalk where he was an active member of St. Rita Parrish. His wife, Pat, passed away in December of 1993. They were one year shy of their 50^th wedding anniversary.

Throughout his life Mr. Seaby enjoyed tinkering around the house, yard and garden and for many years he and Pat were proud owners of Golden Retrievers. Prior to and after his retirement he was an active member of the Dundalk American Legion Post No. 38, serving as Adjutant for several years. During the early fall season both Rob & Pat enjoyed visiting Ocean City. Pop-Pop, as he was called by his grandchildren, enjoyed family gatherings, a cold glass of iced tea and a well made crab cake