Bond's Broadcast

There’s nothing like looking in the eyes of young people on Christmas morning.

This year, while I didn’t get to be where my children and grandchildren were I did get the opportunity to watch Christmas package opening opportunities via Skype on the Internet.

Skype for those who may now know allows use of a web-cam or video camera and can be seen by the other party wherever they may be.

I had grandchildren in eastern Kentucky and in Nevada – and I was able to watch the proceedings.

The beauty of it is getting to watch the faces of those young boys and girls as they enjoy the moments of Christmas one by one.

I can remember what I considered to be my most exciting Christmas of my childhood. Actually there are two, but the one most vivid in my mind came when I was 7-years-old.

My grandparents lived in Charleston W.Va., in a second-story apartment. The apartment had three bedrooms and a nice formal dining room. It seemed at least at the time to be really, really large.

The living room was in front of the apartment and was declared off-limits for me as it contained all of the Christmas present.

I had put in my list hoping for a few things that Christmas but without question I wanted to point out in all capital letters my desire for a Red Ryder Sleigh. I wanted the long one as well, for even at 8-years-old I was plenty tall.

In those days I wasn’t totally divorced from the idea that Santa Claus was a man who went house to house. Thus when banished to my bedroom I took the direction and moved on down the hall.

At about 2:30 a.m. I woke up. I know this because the large standing clock stood in the hallway outside my door and I could see the hands on the clock.

I quietly worked my way out of the bedroom and down the hall which creaked with every step.

Then, once past my dad’s room, I had made it to the living room.

When I looked to the left there it was – right smack dab in the middle of the room.

It was a full-length Red Ryder Sleigh.

It took all I could do to contain my joy when I saw it. I can remember raising my arms above my head and emitting a silent scream and yell for joy.

I did take the time to lie down on the sleigh for just a minute and it was pure joy.

I quietly made my way down the hallway and back into the bed.

I had no trouble going back to sleep simply because I knew what was down there in the other room.

That Christmas, too, was the first time I had ever gone with a group to sing Christmas Carols. We went down the street singing and were invited in for cookies and hot chocolate.

There are some things all of us have in the back of our minds and plan ahead as we look forward to another Christmas.

This particular Christmas will never go away for me. It is something that rings into my mind and helps me remember the essence of youth.

Just like this Christmas, I will be able to file into the recesses of my mind the loving looks and shrieks of joy emitted from the mouths of my grandchildren as they open presents and shared each one of them with me as they showed them to the camera for us to see.

I hope you and your family enjoyed a great Christmas. I wish you the happiest New Year celebration and prosperous 2013.

And so, for another week, thanks and thirty.

Contact Hank Bond via email at [email protected].