When I was a child we'd visit the grandparents at Christmastime. We'd always visit Mom's parents at Christmas so we could eat with Mom's extended family at the big gathering at Aunt Phlisity's (my grandma hosted Thanksgiving). A few days after Christmas we'd drive to Barry and have a second Christmas with Dad's parents.
There was always a village under the Villiger Christmas tree. Grandma would spread cotton batting like snow and set up the buildings. There was a church with an internal light that gleamed yellow through the windows. I guess over the years the buildings broke and were thrown out. Somehow I wound up with the green fence that was part of the scene.
After Grandma died Mom gave me one of their Christmas ornaments. It sits on top of a branch or hangs from one, and I love it.
I'd like to say I remember it on Grandma and Grandpa's tree, but I don't. I remember wax ornaments. Grandma let me take them off the tree and play with them. I loved the little Santas and angels, though they were chipped and scuffed. I couldn't break them or hurt them. No one else had ornaments like these, and I've seen none since. The adults told me that only wax ornaments were available during World War 2.
Writing this prompted me to look on e-bay. I just bought two wax Santa Clauses just like Grandmas. I've never seen them for sale before. Maybe someday I'll find an angel.
