Christmas of 1964
78In the summer of 1964 we moved from town to the country. An old red brick farm house was like a mansion to a nine year old boy. Our yard was full of big climbing trees surrounded by green fields and woods that I could explore with my new dog named Tyler. I was in nine year old boy heaven.
Our Landlord was a farmer who farmed the acreage around the old house. I knew him as, Farmer Bob. I would always ride with dad a mile up the road to pay old Farmer Bob the rent. He was in his 40s and that was old to me. Farmer Bob would always grin at me when dad handed him the rent money.
I can still picture Farmer Bob in that ragged John Deere hat, limping from the barn to meet us. I found out later in life that he was a Korean War veteran.
Autumn came around far too soon but I so enjoyed watching Farmer Bob harvest the crops. I would run to the field every time old Farmer Bob showed up on his tractors pulling balers or combines. My dog Tyler and me would run along side at a safe distance and watch the hay go in and then come out big rectangular bales.
I was amazed at the technology and the chug of the old John Deere tractor was music to my ears. When Farmer Bob would take a break, he would sit on the baler tire and explain how things worked. Sometimes, he would give me an apple from his lunch box.
When the fields became bare, I sure missed following Farmer Bob around. I entertained myself by piling up leaves and diving in them. I had bunches of trees to climb from sunrise to sunset. I had brothers and sisters to annoy and plenty of places to hide from them when I had gone too far.
November came and my dad got laid off. My mom was working in a garment factory and made very little money. They were raising 2 adults and five kids. My oldest brother was in the Army. I had overheard mom and dad talking to my older siblings about how it was going to be just food for Christmas.....no presents this year.
I was sad but the depressing news held my attention for about three minutes and I was off to play in the new snowfall with Tyler.
When December first rolled around, I jumped in the old 1941 Ford with dad and we went to pay Farmer Bob the rent. This time, Farmer Bob came out of the house and not the big red barn. I waved and he wave back saying,"There's my little friend."
Farmer Bob and dad talked a little about the weather and dad handed Farmer Bob the rent money. Farmer Bob handed the money back to dad and said,"Spend this on your family Mr. Cornett...Merry Christmas!"
I looked up at dad and I could see how shocked he was. Dad said,"Are you sure Bob...we're making it OK." Farmer Bob just grinned and said,"It's not charity...it's a gift Mr. Cornett....I just want you to have it for Christmas." Dad shook his hand and thanked him. Old Farmer Bob grinned and waved at me as we pulled away.
On the way home, dad told me to remember what just happened and I would always know the true meaning of Christmas.
On Christmas eve, we decorated a tree that my brother, dad and me had cut from the woods. We strung popcorn and made angels with aluminum foil. Mom and my sisters made cookies and candy. We listened to Christmas songs on the radio and sang along with the ones we knew. I went to bed that night with contentment in my heart and a smile on my face.
Christmas morning was wonderful. There were PRESENTS under the tree! Mom and dad both had tears in their eyes as they passed us the wrapped packages. There were thank yous, hugs, laughing and cheering. I got a large bag of Army men, new shoes and Tyler got a collar. We were a very happy family that morning.
When it came time for the blessing before dinner. dad thanked God for the food and mentioned the gift of Farmer Bob.
We rented that old red brick house from Farmer Bob for five more years. Every December first, Farmer Bob would hand the rent money back to dad.
Maybe Christmas is about the special people we hold in our hearts because they cared enough to give a gift. Maybe knowing those people is the very gift itself? It was to an eight year old boy.....still is to me.
Little sister Velvet, Mom,Tyler and me.
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Comments
That's a great Christmas story. It is nice to hear about the good people in the world. I hope Farmer Bob had a long and happy life.
Thanks for the tip on ABCTales; my stories seem to get more reads there.
I love nostalgia, complete with black and white photo. Nice hub, Tom, and wonderful Christmas story.
Thanks creativeone...it's a true story so close to my heart. :)
Pete...thanks...I hope he did too...you're welcome...I think it's a pretty good site for creative writing. I get more reads there too.
alekhouse...thanks....I wish the world had more folks like Farmer Bob. :)
I've always loved this story--I'm so glad you shared it with everyone!
~~hugs~~
Tom, thanks for sharing this magnificant story about the true meaning of Christmas. Just your description of Farmer Bob makes me sure his gift was as much a gift to him as it was to your family. The true joy is in the giving.
Tammy...me too sweetie...me too. :)
Tom...thanks....when I begin to lose hope for humanity...I think of old Farmer Bob and hope returns. :)
Great story that probably represents many missed opportunities for many of us. Hopefully we will not miss another.
This is a wonderful heartfelt story Tom, I do enjoy reading these types of stories very much. Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks papajack....hopefully we wont. :)
wesley... thanks...you're welcome. :)
Beautiful story. Thanks..
I understand what you mean, about twenty years ago, at easter, we were really really broke and I could'nt afford a proper easter dinner, i opened my front door and there was a basket of food with a chicken and trimmings, in the basket. to this day i do not know who put it there,i have an idea but could never prove it. i was in tears but as you can see, i never forgot it. lol Nell
Thanks breakfstpop! :)
Nell..thanks for sharing that.....just think how the people who left the basket would feel if they knew that you still appreciated their gift. The simple power of love is amazing! :)
This was a very pleasant read Tom. It's nice to have Farmer Bobs in the world, and they still exist.
Thanks Charlie...yes...they are out there. :)
Brings back memories Tom. Perhaps my memory is flawed but it seemed Christmas was more about helping the less fortunate back then. Farmer Bob reminded me of my own father who fought in world war II. Old warriors have seen everything and seem to understand life better than some of us. Enjoyed the story!
Randy..thanks...my dad was in WW 2 also. The old Vets and the young ones are the treasures of this country.
what an immensely cool story t.c.
just back on line...my computer had died and I was penniless...I hope to recount my cybernetic resurrection in a hub...it turned out to b an early christmas from an unexpected and unknown source...
it's a cool coincidence that this hub of yours is the first read I have partaken of since I have come back...
farmer bob as father xmas-I can dig that!!!
hey brother, thanx again for checking on me priorly...I can tell u that u have not forgotten the meaning u were blessed to have observed and partaken of with regard to the true spirit of xmas....
bless u and yours...I look forward to reading more of your hubs once again...
peace
got the wood stove cooking....gonna gather some wood today...just about got in what i figure i'll need...leaves have all fallen atop this mountain...ha...tune up the guitar....
and strum abit too...life has once again provided me with refreshment and fodder...
b cool my man
Wow ! What a post...This is one of the best blog posts that I have read. Blogs must be like this. Outstanding...The farm, the greenery, the nature, the friends, the environment and finally the snowballs resembling cold weather. This is just what I need ... Maybe reading your blogpost and for the first time is the gift for Christmas.
Thank You
What a great story! This Christmas will be my first in my own farm house. I am really looking forward to it.
john...great to see you are still on the mountain my friend. Pickin' and grinnin', I hope. I know those unknown sources well....I've kept many angels busy and danced with a few devils. Blessings to you. I always smile when I see your name in the comments. :)
Navaneet...thank you....every smile is a gift...I'm so glad you liked it. :)
Artemus...thank you....that is wonderful...have a wonderful Christmas there! :)
wow, such a heartful and great christmas story, it makes me smile and realize something wonderful..thank you very much for sharing... Merry Christmas in advance also! :)..glad i read this.. :)
Thank you pinhawk...Merry Christmas to you too! :)
Thanks Tom for sharing this beautiful story.:) Take care.
Wonderful story, great memories.
Thanks keira..you too! :)
Thanks Putz...yes they are. :)
This shows us that God does work in mysterious ways. Many times he uses us to do his bidding for him. That was an awesome story Tom. It brings tears to my eyes because I can relate to it very well. I came from a family of 13 kids so there was always very little at Christmas time but we all were very grateful for what we did get.
bjjp....thanks...grateful is a wonderful word...have a wonderful Christmas this year! :)
What a beautiful story. If only we did have more Farmer Bob's---especially when we read of all the personal bankruptcies and foreclosures. I try to pay it forward when I have a few extra bucks--I never know when I could fall on hard times. God bless us as we head into this holiday season. May we all carry the lesson of Farmer Bob: kindness and compassion toward our fellow citizens.
Dink...thanks...we sure could use more Farmer Bob's. We could use a lot more of them.....these days. :)
It was a good year eh Tom? It's nice to read reminiscences like this as they take me back to places and faces in my own past. and who knows what Christmas means? I think there's no absolute definition as it changes year after year...
a nice read yet again, my friend. you never fail to warm your reader's heart :D LYM!
A very good year my friend. I thing that most of us can relate to a similar story or a similar feeling about Christmas. It's a hard season when one has no money...it's much harder when one has no love. LYM! :)
Thanks for the great story. Christmas now is so commercial it is hard to remember those times.
Thanks Mitch....very true. :)
I would ask is this a true story, but I can feel it is, you are a story teller and I can feel it's your real love. It sets our memories in stone doesn't it, the ones we never want to lose, the good and the bad.
Thanks Polly...yes...it is true...a wonderful truth. :)
I loved this hub! It was well written, short enough to hold my interest and long enough to develop the people in it.
I will be back to check out some more.
resspenser...thanks...so glad you enjoyed it. :)
1964 was a bad year for me, don't like to go back there too often. Could o' been worse I suppose. I ran away from an orphanage and ended up 90 miles away, was gone for four years, 4 years missing my family and Mom. 4 Christmases gone, 4 birthdays too. Ach well, life.
creativeone59 says:
3 weeks ago
Thank you Tom for a very nice Christmas hub, thank you for sharing it. creativeone59