CAROLE’S MEMORY. Today’s RTS is from Carole Longo’s childhood memory, titled “A PERFECT WHITE CHRISTMAS GIFT.”

Carole said, “I grew up at 45 E Main St in Bradford. My parents were Parma and Gerald Longo.

“Years ago and throughout his life my Dad was truly infected with a contagious Christmas Spirit. He generously gave gifts and rejoiced in the birth of his Savior. He was a decorating maniac; the glitzier the better. Dad loved blinking stars, marching soldiers, singing chipmunks with Rudolph’s red nose flashing and bells jingling on all our door knobs.

“Our Nativity scene displayed 12 sheep with fur, 11 shepherds, 10 camels, four Wiseman, two drummer boys and a kneeling Santa Claus. An angel dressed in a white satin gown lifted her magic wand towards Heaven and reined majestically on top of the tree. After Dad plugged in the lights, pulled the switches and wound up all the music boxes the inside and outside of our apartment performed Swan Lake, the Alleluia Chorus and the Nutcracker Suite simultaneously.

“When I was six Dad surprised his family with a perfect gift. On Christmas Eve during a blizzard with zero visibility Dad came home from work late. Mom loved Dad but she yelled when she was worried so I heard: ‘Where the hell is your father? Dinner is getting cold. Carole, go out on the porch and check.’ I stepped out into the two feet of snow illuminated by the moonlight. I squinted but only saw the large white snowflakes surfing the howling wind. ‘Did you see him?’ Mom yelled. ‘Where the hell is he? Dinner is getting cold.’”

Find out more tomorrow.