Christmas memories......................... (1 Viewer)

[Warrior]

When was a young boy, the two biggest influences on me developing a love for toy soldiers were my Dad and my Uncle Harry. My Dad was a model railroader, I grew to love ho/oo Airfix figures because my Dad would take me to his trips to model railroading shops and he'd buy me Airfix figures, he also used to take me into downtown Boston every year for my birthday; we'd go to a couple of large hobby shops, Kresge's, Woolworths, Filenes and Jordan Marsh department stores, he'd buy me toy soldiers, we'd see a movie at a theatre and then have lunch, my birthday is December 28th, so Downtown Boston was still festively decorated for the holidays, it was a special time in my life.

My Uncle Harry used to buy me soldiers too, one year he asked me what I wanted, I told him a Marx Blue and the Gray set, I remember him coming to my parents home Christmas night and I watched as he popped his trunk open and pulled out that Marx box and tucked it under his arm, another year he bought me the Britain Deetail Confederate set and two caissons with guns and crews, that was the same year my Mom got me the Deetail Union set. My Uncle Harry and Aunt Athena used to take me and my cousin George Psomas out for dinner for my birthday, we'd go to dinner and then to the mall and they'd buy the two of us toy soldiers, I remember one year I got the Britains Deetail Napoleonics at Kaybee Toys.

My Dad and my Uncle are no longer here, but I continue to honor their memory by putting toy soldier presents from them to me under the tree; this week they showed up, I'll wrap them later, but here they are. Thanks Pops and Uncle Harry, love you both, thank you SO much for making Christmas and my birthday such wonderful times, memories I will always cherish, I will continue to honor the two of you at this time of the year. Merry Christmas everyone..................

 

[Alexander the Great]

George,

Wonderful memories and Merry Christmas!!!
I did not realize that you are Greek or at least part of the family is!!

 

[tdubel]

Cool beans story George!

My memories were of Britains Metal Models, Deetail and Reeves Toy Soldiers that my Dad would get me in FAO Schwarz. When I got those first Reeves Matte finish toy soldiers, I had arrived! I thought they were the cream of the crop, best ever. Fast forward today.................crazy how details have changed!

Tom

 

[Warrior]

George,

Wonderful memories and Merry Christmas!!!
I did not realize that you are Greek or at least part of the family is!!

Thanks and Merry Christmas to you as well................my Dad was Italian, my Mom is Greek, so that makes me half Greek, half Italian............yup, quite a combination.

I'd like to think my work ethic comes from my Mom's Dad/my Grandfather, he worked his *** off, started off with a pushcart with fruit and produce on it, grew that into a large fruit and produce business, my Dad's Dad/my other grandfather was a hard working no nonsense Italian.

No nonsense; I like that.

 

[Warrior]

Cool beans story George!

My memories were of Britains Metal Models, Deetail and Reeves Toy Soldiers that my Dad would get me in FAO Schwarz. When I got those first Reeves Matte finish toy soldiers, I had arrived! I thought they were the cream of the crop, best ever. Fast forward today.................crazy how details have changed!

Tom

Good times boy, that's for sure...............I loved both the Airfix ho/oo figures and the Marx sets as well as the Britains swoppets and detail figures, really enjoyed them all as a kid...............

 

[Terp152]

Nice post George. Brought back TS memories to me as well. I would marvel at the detail on my Airfix soldiers. Rec'd a Marx playset at Christmas a lot of yrs. Just gave my nephew's son the Cape Canaveral set this summer. I remember my mother taking my sister and me to see the Christmas window displays in downtown Baltimore every yr. Of course those dept stores are long gone. Nice times. Chris

 

[Louis Badolato]

George,

Thank you for sharing your wonderful family memories. I always thought your father was the best, and I am happy to see you remember him in this wonderful way.. Merry Christmas my friend!

 

[thebritfarmer]

What wonderful memories, thanks for sharing the. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

 

[REVWARBUFF]

George,

That was a wonderful, heartfelt story! Good to see that you keep your dad's and uncle's legacies alive with the toy soldier gifts under the tree.

I am sure a flood of memories will overwhelm you when you open those gifts.

Merry Christmas to you.

Mark

 

[BHogan]

George,

Lovely tradition. A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.

Brendan

 

[gk5717]

Great story George.
I remember looking at the Sears catalog and picking out the Marx playset I would get every Christmas. When I got to old to ask for toy soldiers I talked my younger brother into asking for one that he got!

 

[Alexander the Great]

Thanks and Merry Christmas to you as well................my Dad was Italian, my Mom is Greek, so that makes me half Greek, half Italian............yup, quite a combination.

I'd like to think my work ethic comes from my Mom's Dad/my Grandfather, he worked his *** off, started off with a pushcart with fruit and produce on it, grew that into a large fruit and produce business, my Dad's Dad/my other grandfather was a hard working no nonsense Italian.

No nonsense; I like that.

Very true on all counts George, wonderful story and a Kala Xristougenna to you and your family!!

 

[Warrior]

Very true on all counts George, wonderful story and a Kala Xristougenna to you and your family!!

And to you and your family as well.

Went with my Mom last week to two cemeteries to wish her parents/my grandparents, her sister/my Aunt Betty and Uncle John, her cousin Mike and his wife Mary, her cousin Jim and his wife Sophie, her cousin Alice and her husband Victor and her brother/my Uncle Harry and Aunt Athena as well as my Dad Merry Christmas.

At one time, they were all around the table with us at Christmas, now they are all up in heaven.

A tough day, but so many wonderful memories..........................

 

[jazzeum]

Lovely sentiments George :smile2:

 

[Alexander the Great]

And to you and your family as well.

Went with my Mom last week to two cemeteries to wish her parents/my grandparents, her sister/my Aunt Betty and Uncle John, her cousin Mike and his wife Mary, her cousin Jim and his wife Sophie, her cousin Alice and her husband Victor and her brother/my Uncle Harry and Aunt Athena as well as my Dad Merry Christmas.

At one time, they were all around the table with us at Christmas, now they are all up in heaven.

A tough day, but so many wonderful memories..........................

Experiencing the same, the number of family members around the table at Christmas decreasing all the time, and they are all irreplaceable

 

[Warrior]

Experiencing the same, the number of family members around the table at Christmas decreasing all the time, and they are all irreplaceable

Understood; my Uncle Harry was a great guy, was a carpenters mate on an LST, he was at Saipan and Iwo Jima among other places during opposed landings, he was the most gentle soul you'd ever want to meet.

My Dad loved Christmas; LOVED it, our house looked like Santa's workshop, he went wild with the decorations, but it was awesome, it's been tough without the two of them, we do our best, but it's not the same........................

 

[Warrior]

Thanks for the comments everyone, here is what was under the tree......................what a great way to remember pops and Uncle Harry.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas..........
gas station that still has gas near me