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Christmas is almost here. I'm wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
It's this time of year that we take the time to reminisce about the past and our favorite Christmas memories. We celebrated Christmas as I was growing up on Christmas Eve. My dad would take us to town in Cromwell or Wright to get us out of the house while my mother made all the last-minute preparations for the evening. Dad would take us to the Co-op store in Wright, and we would look around at all the possible Christmas items and see the decorations.
I remember he bought me two toy horses with riders, and I still have one of them. Of course, they were so well enjoyed that one got lost and parts were broken. But that is one of my favorite memories.
We would all sit at a kids' table while the grownups got to sit at the big dining room table. There were always extra folks there too - Grandma Dahlman, Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Einar and son Carl, along with anyone else that could attend. We never ate until after 8 p.m. as the men had to do the milking and other chores before coming in from the barn. Then, when the lutefisk and pork loin were ready, we said grace and began to eat.
We were not allowed to open any gifts until all the dishes were cleaned up and the Christmas Story was read from the Bible. We even put on a program with singing and saying our Christmas program parts from Sunday School. Several songs were sung, the kids kept asking if they could open their gifts, and finally, one by one, we were allowed to open one gift at a time, being careful not to tear the wrapping paper so it could be reused year after year.
Long after midnight, the kids would go to bed exhausted after such a wonderful celebration.
In other local news, starting on Jan. 2, there will be a "no cellphone" policy in effect at Cromwell-Wright Public School. That means there will be no cell phone use from 8:25 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. Check out the school website for a full explanation.
There will be no school Dec. 23 through Jan. 1.
The Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wright will hold its last Christmas Eve service as an everyday church at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Pastor Tim will be leading the service, along with music and fellowship. Christmas Eve services have been held there, as far as I know, since 1917, when the sanctuary was completed. This is a sad occasion for the members but, as Doug Suhonen always said, "the only thing that's permanent is change." The final worship service will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 26. It will be a Holy Closure service followed by a special meal. All area folks are encouraged to attend. The city of Wright will take over the property.
That's all the news from the Edge of Wright and Cromwell Corner.