...Have a Gingery Holiday Season, y'all...

...here's a uber-cute young Ginger tearing into presents... cool! Is it just me, tho, or are the trees they used back in the day just a bit 'scraggly'? And this one looks like there's a rubber chicken hanging off of the far side... oh well, who cares, as long as Ginger is in the foreground!!!

Well, I was guided by a fellow Gingerologist to recall one of the more memorable Christmases for Ginger in her bio... and even though most of y'all know it well, I still thought I'd transcribe it here, just to get in the spirit of things, and for those who haven't seen it... but the setup is as follows... Christmas 1942... The U.S. had been in WWII for just over a year, and Ginger was planning on marrying Jack Briggs the following January. He was enlisted, and was spending the holidays with his relatives before marrying Ginger and then waiting for 'the call' for being sent into battle... So Ginger and Lela entertained some of their relatives at her Gilcrest home... From her bio (starting on p. 251 - silver hardcover), and a few awesome pics of Ginger, Lela, and Smokey on the set of "The Major and the Minor":

"Despite the dreadful shadow of war, my house on Gilcrest was full of the Christmas spirit, as well as bulging presents waiting to be opened. My mother, whose birthday was December 25, squealed with delight at having her father, Smokey, as our guest for the day. Family and friends gathered around the Christmas tree, and I was the master of ceremonies for this part of the presentation. When the presents from under the silver-tip pine dwindled to nothing but empty space, Smokey's face became very long and very sad. He must have thought we'd forgotten about a present for him."

"I drew my mother's attention to the clouded expression on his face, and she nodded to me that we had better take him outside before he pouted. Mother and I planned his present and its presentation together. I reached down to the base of the tree and picked up a huge ball of red string. I announced to Smokey, "Here's your present but you'll have to follow wherever it leads you.""
"He immediately caught the humor of it, saying, "This is just what I needed." He wound the string into a red ball and he repeated his remark each time the string would be wrapped around a lamp or a book. The whole group got caught up in his search and as soon as the string stopped at any item, in unison they would repeat with him, "This is just what I needed.""

"The string led us outdoors to the parking space in front of my three-car garage, and, as planned, there was a brand-new Ford. When the crowd saw this shiny new car, they let out an audible "Oh, no!" since the string had just stopped at the radiator on the front of the car. In his amazement, Smokey again repeated, "This is just what I needed!" Smokey sat down on the running board of his Ford and began to cry like a baby, he was so overcome. Everyone in the crowd got caught up in the emotion of the moment, and there wasn't a dry eye in the group. Lelee and I presented him with the right gift, and it really surprised him. It was a thrill for me to know that. He took my mother into a corner later that evening and said, "You two didn't have to get me such an extravagant present."" 
"Mother rightly answered him, "But, Daddy, you are the most important man in our lives.""
"With that, Granddaddy cried again. He was an emotional Welshman. Bless him!"
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...hopefully this story will strike a chord with you as you reflect on Christmases Past, which are hopefully great memories of loved ones (it had that effect on me...) ...and to also inspire you NOW to make the most of the season with family...which is what it REALLY should be all about, right?
...with that, here's wishing all Gingerologists out there a VERY Gingery Holiday Season!!!

KIG, y'all!!!

Hu
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