Christmas is just around the corner, and that means I need to get started on my shopping. For years I have delegated one day – Dec. 24 – to begin and complete that chore. 

It is always a thrilling and memorable experience as I often bump into friends (guys) who I haven’t seen since this time last year. I think I started shopping on Christmas Eve day back when I had my first paper route. I would scamper down to the corner of Madison Avenue and Thompson Road to Fronnie and Ruth’s Sundries Shop.

I sometimes regifted a few of the 18 or so boxes of chocolate-covered cherries that my customers gave me. I still enjoy this candy during the holidays as it brings a smile to my face while recalling Christmases of the past.

We lived on Madison at that time, and we had a cardboard statue of the Coca-Cola Santa in our living room. I can almost see him standing near the fireplace when I stop into The Longacre Bar & Grill, which used to be our house.

I remember spending hours on the floor under and around the Christmas tree playing with my new electric train that Santa gave to me. 

My dad had a daily country pickup milk route during those years. It was perfectly OK to get up very early Christmas morning and open our gifts from Santa before Dad left on his route.

We always spent Christmas Eve at the home of my maternal grandparents, where uncles, aunts, cousins and friends filled the house and enjoyed a meal and opening presents. I can’t drive past that house without those memories filling my brain.

I had an aunt who lived in Pittsburgh. She and my mom were sisters-in-law and very close. Aunt Tess always mailed Christmas presents to our family. I remember finding my sister, who was 4 or 5 at the time, in a closed closet opening her present from our aunt. 

On Christmas afternoon, after Dad got home from his milk route, we drove around to visit his siblings. During some of those years his mother lived in a small house behind us, and she used to go with us. 

Several years later one of dad’s sisters from New Mexico moved back to Indiana around the Greenwood area. She quickly became part of our Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and meals. She always made the most delicious pecan pies.

I remember several gifts that Santa brought me. There was a fine set of cowboy cap pistols and fancy holsters. I’ve been told that for a couple of years I sounded exactly like Roy Rogers when I wore my cowboy gear. There is a cable channel that plays old Roy Rogers television shows. I watch them sometimes and the voice returns. I remember several bicycles and roller skates. ...

OK, I’m getting in the spirit. I’ll see you guys at the stores Saturday.
Merry Christmas!
Shonk is a 1960 graduate of Southport High School, a ’63 grad of Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) and a retired bus driver from Beech Grove Schools.

Editor’s note. This column was written for our Dec. 7 issue, but due to space constraints it was not published.
This is a wonderful time of the year because there are great shows on television. I record some, but the chances of watching them are not so good because I am always busy. 

Last week Stuart, my therapy dog, and I had our normal (and always fun) nursing home visit, and we enjoyed students from elementary schools in Beech Grove reading to us. 

We had several errands to run on Friday, one of which was to purchase a warm coat for Stuart to wear the next day. We were going to help out The Salvation Army by ringing the bell at the Kroger at Madison and Edgewood avenues. I picked out a nice coat but was advised to purchase a size larger. As we attempted to try it on when we got home, Stuart informed me that it was way too tight around his chest. We exchanged it for an extra-large one, which seemed to fit nicely. 

We started ringing the bell at 10 a.m. Saturday. I showed Stuart several times that he could hold the handle of the bell in his teeth and gently shake his head, but he gave me that “Are you crazy?” look. We were on duty for an hour. The next two hours were assigned to Stuart’s good friend Charlie O’Donkey, who had the 11 a.m.-1 p.m. shift.

We hung around for a little while. All of a sudden Stuart noticed that Charlie had the bell in his mouth and was ringing it. Stuart once again dispatched one of his looks my way. This one was “No way!” and he began looking toward the car. He was ready to go on break.

We came back in a couple of hours. Charlie and his human family from The Southport Equestrian Center had a wonderful time ringing the bell. Folks were allowed to give Charlie small carrots. 

We were back on duty for a couple of hours, and many friends and former classmates stopped by to donate to the copper kettle.

Saturday evening I attended the Southport-Ben Davis boys basketball game. At halftime the late Tom Hathaway, Southport’s legendary cross-country coach who lead the boys and girls teams to a combined  seven state championships, was honored. 

I enjoyed visiting with folks who I hadn’t seen for a long time. It was special to chat with coach Hathaway’s wife, Jane. There were stories being told and retold all night. 

This week is going to be busy also. Stuart and I have our regular visits on our calendar. These are special, and we look forward to them. 

Wednesday morning I’m having breakfast with some of the folks who I worked with at Beech Grove Schools. My good friend Bill Bane coordinates these monthly breakfasts. Also on Wednesday I will have a lunch at Harry & Izzy’s with several members of my Southport High School graduating class. The Southsider Voice Christmas party is that night.  

And that’s just Wednesday. ...  I am a lucky guy.

Shonk is a 1960 graduate of Southport High School, a ’63 grad of Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) and a retired bus driver from Beech Grove Schools.