CHAPTER TWELVE:

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hristmas was always a special time in the Murphy household.

Like most festivities, the Christmas season was centered

around family. For Kathleen, the Christmas season was one of the most memorable times of the year. Christmas Eve, Christmas morning and Christmas Day all had their own moments of magic and

mystery.

When the children were younger, Kathleen began buying gifts early in the year when they were on sale. Everything was bought in cash; the family did not overspend at Christmas. Most gifts were of a practical nature. Board games such as Monopoly and toys like lego blocks were at the top of her list. Once she found a steam engine that was powered by a candle; it proved to be a big hit. Also close to the top were practical gifts such

as clothes and sporting equipment. To prevent prying eyes, Kathleen attached random numbers to gifts rather than names. The names would not go on until she put the gifts under the tree after the children had gone to bed on Christmas Eve.

As the children grew out of believing in Santa Claus, they were reminded not to spoil Christmas for the younger ones. When Joey, the youngest, was born, Kathleen and Bill, along with the older children, got to relive Christmas through the eyes of a child.

Kathleen made Christmas stockings for all the children with their names on them. (Joey, who was the youngest, got a “store—bought” stocking.) The Christmas season “officially” began when the stockings were hung

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