A Christmas Memory

by: AmTav
© 2007 by the author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

When I was much younger, my family was large and what might now be called poor. It was Christmas Eve and my chore for the day was to hitchhike to the bakery in town to buy some ‘day old’ bread to last us through the holidays. About ten loaves I think.

I gathered a few used paper shopping bags, the kind with the cord handles. I left the house and walked the half mile to the main road. It was freezing and the rides were scarce. I think it took me three rides to go the six miles to the thrift store at the bakery. I was even worried about getting there before they closed.

I was only twelve or fourteen at the time but it was still thought to be safe for kids to hitchhike. After getting my two bags of bread, I stepped out the door and stuck out my thumb. It was getting dark already and I was starting to think it would take me hours to get home.

To my surprise, the first car to come along stopped to pick me up. The driver told me he was going past where I had to get off. I told myself ‘my day was made’.

We got to talking and I explained why I was out in such bad weather. He asked me if it would be ok if he stopped for a few minutes at a shopping plaza, what would now be called strip mall, on the way. Knowing I had a sure ride home, I told him, "Of course."

Things were different back then. He left the car running while he did his shopping so I would stay warm. In no time at all, he was back with two large shopping bags of what appeared to be food. Again, we were on our way and in no time, we were at the end of my street where I had to get out but he turned into my road and drove me to my house. As I was getting my bread out of the back seat, he told me to take the other bags he just bought. I wasn’t sure what to do, but he quickly explained to me it was his way of doing something nice for Christmas.

When he drove away, I was standing on the side of the road checking out the groceries. I could see a five-pound box of chocolate candy and a bag of oranges. When I got everything in the house, my mother found a big turkey, canned pumpkin, cranberry sauce and almost everything else for a feast.

I know now I will never forget that day. As soon as I was able to drive myself, I started to do the same thing every Christmas. In time, it became unsafe to hitchhike and I had to find other ways to find needy families. I of course wanted to remain anonymous. I did find various church groups that knew who the needy were, but after a few years I found the churches all had their own agenda.

I did find some charities doing an ‘adopt a family’ program and the 'start up' food banks. I had occasional lean years and was more saddened by the fact I could not do things for others than my condition at the time would allow.

Being the oldest of seven kids and the last to marry, I soon found myself hosting the holiday dinners for my siblings and their children. Some of my nephews and nieces would not have known Santa if I didn’t buy tons of gifts.

I’ll never forget that ride from a stranger so many years ago, nor the true meaning of Christmas giving.