I love Christmas music. Christmas music in the car makes every drive better. A drive to Plano, a quick trip to the Texaco for gasoline, or even a long slow haul through Oklahoma.
Winter Wonderland reminds me of Brother Brown and Brinkley Chapel Christmas programs—a private joke among the youth choir, and I use the term choir very loosely… We were an impressive group—me, Staci, our cousin Lesa, and the three Davis girls who ironically were also cousins. I was the oldest, the leader of the pack, but we were all within 3 years of each other. Without fail, we performed a Christmas pageant every year at Brinkley under the direction and choreography of my mother, church pianist.
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| Staci, Lesa, Talya, Jamie, Karen, Monica How excited were we? |
As young girls, we wore similar floor length velvet-ish dresses sewn by our mothers or grandmothers. We loved those dresses. Those dresses were the ONLY reason we agreed to perform.
In junior high we showcased our more individually developing talents like playing the flute or guitar to Away in a Manger, more of a 1970’s variety show, made popular at the time by Sonny & Cher, Tony Orlando & Dawn, etc. One year we were even allowed to wear bell-bottom jeans. Eventually, younger Davis kids came along—Kim and Jeff and Mitzi—never part of the core choir, but allowed to play lesser roles such as lambs in the manger scene.
By the time we were in high school, we six girls were completely mortified by this musical spectacle. There was much loud protesting, teenage moaning, hair flipping and eye rolling. We begged and pleaded to pass the torch permanently to the younger Davis clan, but to no avail. Our fan club (mostly relatives) demanded it, feigning absolute delight each year with our performance. There was nothing much to do in Mississippi County.
The finale was always identical, year after year, a Brinkley tradition—We Wish You a Merry Christmas with the entire congregation joining in for the final verse (which was the same as the first verse).
Finally, Santa magically appeared in the sanctuary complete with red suit, fluffy white beard and a large burlap sack on his back. He spread good cheer and plain brown paper sacks to everyone. Inside, an apple, tangerine, assorted nuts, individually wrapped chocolate and peppermints. I can still smell that wonderful combination of treats. These goodie bags, a highlight and huge indulgence, made the whole debacle worthwhile. I made my chocolate last for days.
Jimmy Davis, church secretary and official keeper of all valuable statistical information, was Santa. He got all the best church jobs.
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| Santa Davis trades in his sleigh for a tractor in the fall… |
talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
Musical Pairing:
Winter Wonderland, Bing Crosby
Sweet memories, now that they are memories – ha ha. I’m sure I ate all of my chocolate right away! Love the picture of us girls.
I’ll bet Barbara kept you in line!
Ah! The joys of childhood memories.
We had some wonderful times at Brinkley, and we put on some top-notch musicals.
Lots of great memories, and we made some life-long friends. Barbara
Love the picture…and the dresses! 🙂
Looking back, I wish we would have gone to church there at Brinkley. I used to hate the drive into Keiser on Sundays after taking the “scenic school bus ride” five days a week. What were my parents thinking?=)
Oh my goodness I love this story and the picture of you girls is priceless!!! Are those, by any chance, saddle oxfords on your feet Talya? : ) Take care, Timmie Lynn
Just as good the second time around!
I like listening to some of the fun Christmas music, too, but didn’t get to perform it l like you. Great photo.
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com
Thanks Joyce! Fun memories:))
Very Cool, post!
Thank you sir!
Such a sweet memory. I’ll always cherish our days at Brinkley Chapel Baptist Church. ..Last Sunday I directed my 1st Christmas Cantata at church, all adult choir. I had flashbacks of our choir. I even shared a few stories about us 6 girls….I can hear us singing How Great Thou Art…..Thanks for sharing. Your cousin Lesa…..
Wow good for you, carrying on the Brinkley tradition:) I don’t think ours would ever have been considered a cantata.
Lesa, I heard that your Cantata was really good. Of course, you learned from the best. Lol. We really put on some good ones, didn’t we. HaHa. The only thing you needed last Sunday was a few velvet-ish dresses.