Once upon a Christmas with the Lett brothers On the Lett family farm holiday customs changed very slowly through the generations. They focused on simplicity with little regard to materialism and commercialism. Daddy (Bud Lett) and Mama (Ruby Knight Lett) raised us young’uns – Jimmy Doyle, Mary Carolyn and me, called “Sandy Lynn” back then – in the timeless traditions of the Lett family. Grandpa and my aunt Gladys (pronounced Glaa-dis) lived across the road so they were an intimate part of our everyday life. Daddy had six other sisters and lots of cousins who came to visit regularly so we enjoyed walking across the road and “setting” a spell with them at the house or grandpa’s country store. Since Daddy had only one brother, Gilbert Lett, he was close to him, and his wife Isabelle and Mama became good friends so the two couples naturally celebrated many holidays together. My brother and sister were born in 1946 and 1947 respectively, so the family had settled into a routine by the time the surprise child had come along. When Gilbert and Isabelle brought forth Tony in 1954, I enjoyed having an adopted brother. When Janice was born in 1959, Carolyn and I lavished our attention on the newborn babe. One Christmas after Gilbert’s family had left Carolyn commented: “When I have a little girl, I want her to be just like Janice.” I quickly responded: “That will be a helleva mess!” Mama started laughing so hard she could barely get out the words, “No cussing in this house.” I looked at Daddy and pointed out that he said helleva mess all the time. He could not argue with that. Later, I realized this slang meant hell of a mess. THE BROTHERS FAMILIES took turns hosting each Christmas Eve. I was in high school when we went to the big house Gilbert and Isabelle had built on Oldham’s Lake in Clearwater Forest. We toured the rooms and I especially liked Janice’s bedroom suit…cream trimmed in gold. She and Tony had built in bookcases and storage cabinets and I felt so envious because I had stacks of writings and school and nowhere to put them. We were very impressed by the modern kitchen and its “citified” gadgets like the dishwasher. Uncle Gilbert poured milk and chocolate ice cream into a blender and made me a milkshake. Yum! Through the decades traditions have changed dramatically. The older generation is fading out…Daddy died in 2004, then Mama, then Gilbert, and then Isabelle. My siblings and my first cousins still love each other very much but gatherings are few and far between. We are blessed with sweet memories while creating fresh holiday traditions with the next generations and new family members. We must believe the best is yet to come… AlexSandra Lett is the author of “Timeless Recipes and Remedies, Country Cooking, Customs, and Cures;” “A Timeless Place, Letts Set a Spell at the Country Store;” “Timeless Moons, Seasons of the Fields and Matters of the Heart;” “Coming Home to my Country Heart, Timeless Reflections about Work, Family, Health, and Spirit” and “Natural Living, From Stress to Rest.” Lett is a professional speaker and can be reached at 919-258-9299 or LettsSetaSpell@aol.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 15:07:56 +0000
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