Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A Christmas Tale ~ The Rocking Horse




Two days before Christmas the year I was three, my parents took me to see Santa Claus at a department store in downtown Los Angeles. In the store on the way, while going through the toy department, I saw a rocking horse and was enchanted. Of course the first and only thing I asked Santa for was a rocking horse. They had already bought all the toys and a rocking horse certainly wasn’t included so that night my Father, who had just begun honing his carpentry skills, started working in the garage; making a rocking horse. On Christmas Eve my parents set their alarm clock and took turns getting up to turn the horse in front of the oven door to hasten the drying of the glue and the newly applied varnish so that Santa could bring me my my wish. And, of course he did and I was thrilled. But this story does not end here, but much later as somehow through all the clean-ups and changes in the next decades the rocking horse was something that was never discarded. He sat hidden in a corner of their barn, unseen and falling gradually into disrepair until many years later when I discovered him lying mostly in pieces, and on this Christmas as once before, the one gift I asked my parents for was my rocking horse. My Father finding most of the parts, and rebuilding those which he couldn’t, repaired the horse and on Christmas morning, for the second time in my life a rocking horse was awaiting me under their tree. Now every Christmas my horse reappears as part of my holiday decorations, often in my toy window as you see in this picture and this year under my living room tree. Throughout the rest of the year he is securely stored away waiting for the return of the holidays. My Father went on to become a master carpenter and spent many hours working with wood, he made cabinets, furniture, and built houses, and when he became ill and couldn't expend much physical effort he began making model ships. I have two of his ships in pride of place in my media/library room, but the rocking horse remains my most precious possession and every time I look at him I think of him as a gift of love, given not just once but twice over.


This post is dedicated to my Father who passed away February 2, 1997.



This post has been linked to: http://alittleofthisandthat2.blogspot.com/

31 comments:

  1. Adrienne I love this story. Our parents did so many things for us that sometimes go un-recognized until we get older and wiser. what a gift of love you have in this lovely little rocking horse, Merry Christmas Adrienne,
    KATHYSUE

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  2. Merry Christmas, Adrienne. This is a lovely, lovely story. These are the treasures of the holidays.

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  3. What a beautiful story Adrienne!! It gave me chill bumps reading!! :)

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  4. Oh how interesting that you posted this today...I have been working on a post about my father who passed away on 2007.
    I love the heartfelt memories of Christmases past...and that rockinghorse is a grand specimen!

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  5. You needed to post a tissue alert at the top of this post. It's just a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing.

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  6. aww lovely :d
    marry christmas<3

    xoxo

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  7. I can see why this was an emotional post for you. It brought tears to my eyes as well. A wonderful and very heartfelt post.

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  8. What a fantastic post! This was so sweet and heartfelt, and a fabulous reminder of the gymnastics parents will go through to make the brightest of dreams come true.

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  9. The man in this story was my grandfather. I will always remember how skillful and hard-working he was.

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  10. what a lovely post Adrienne... What room is this in? the entry? or your kitchen?

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  11. I thank all of my blog friends for your kind, and sensitive comments on this post...and I thank both of my children for their comments - how wonderful it is that they both remember their Grandfather with such love. He would have been very pleased indeed.

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  12. What a sweet sweet story - and what lovely parents you have. I love how they turned the horse in front of the oven to hasten the glue drying. No wonder this horse is so very precious to you - it would be to me as well.
    Our daughter got a beautiful wooden rocking horse for her first birthday. She's 12 now, but the rocking horse is still with us, residing behind the sofa. I don't think that it will ever leave us.

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  13. Oh Adrienne, your story brought tears to my eyes. My Dad is so much like yours! I am so lucky - he has built me my hutch that I treasure... he also built a cradle for my kids when they were little but we did end up giving it away because it was too large to keep & store unfortunately :( But I treasure my hutch and will never let it go. God bless.

    Michelle

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  14. What do you mean your dad made it? Was he an elf? ;)

    What a treasure to have. It is beautiful craftsmanship with a priceless story!

    XOL

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  15. I would cherish that rocking horse all of my life just as you do. What a wonderful dad and a wonderful memory.

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  16. Adrienne, what a moving Christmas tale, and what an adorable rocking horse you've been left with. Nothing could be sweeter for remembering your father. It is a treasure.

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  17. Hi. I am here to welcome you from
    Brend's blog. I love the picture of your horse and the story. How sweet and what a great memory.

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  18. I love your rocking horse !!! what great memories this has for you !!

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  19. What a beautiful, and touching story! Hola! and greetings from Guatemala, dropping by from Brenda's Cozy Little House. What a great place you have going on, and if you don't mind, I would love to come by more often.
    I love the red rocking horse! What a great gift X2. Certainly, something to remember your dad by.
    Happy holidays!
    Claudia at claudiaguatemala.blogspot.com

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  20. Merry Christmas PopPop, Raleigh and Dad. We miss you so much. You were the most wonderful fathers a kid could have. The holiday memories with you all continue to make us warm and happy. Love, Jen.

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  21. What a beautiful story. My father was a carpenter too and for a xmas he made me a small cabinet , bed...for my dolls and he was working at night after his day of work like your father with your horse.Great memories!

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  22. What a beautiful story, thanks for sharing.
    God Bless and Merry Christmas!

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  23. I came to visit from Brenda's Welcome Wagon. What an awesome and touching story. It is indeed a beautiful rocking horse. Merry Christmas

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  24. That is such a sweet story. How awesome that you've hung onto it all these years! What a treasure! Happy to have found you from Cozy Little House. I'm your newest follower and would be delighted to have you follow me back!
    Tammy@ www.beatricebanks.blogspot.com

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  25. love the horse! my dad also made me a horse but mine was big (like a small pony) with the midsection built like a barrel. She "lived" outside. I called her Molly. Thanks for triggering a good memory :-)

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  26. Adrienne, What a sweet, sweet story and a wonderful tribute to your dad. Beautiful post.

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  27. Hello Adrienne,
    I have come over from Brenda's Blog to say hello and tell you that I loved the story of your Christmas Rocking Horse. What a wonderful way to remember your father. You have a lovely little blog and I will enjoy coming over to visit you often. Have a wonderful Friday...
    Maura :)

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  28. Adrienne, this is a very special simple pleasure post. So beautiful! Your rocking horse is a real family treasure! blessings..Trish

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  29. Hello, Adrienne. I'm visiting from Brenda's. What a sweet, sweet story. I love the rocking horse. It is a treasure. Thanks for sharing!

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  30. What a lovely story behind your rocking horse and he's magnificent too!

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  31. Beautiful story. You must feel greatly loved and cherished every time you recall it.

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