By Carla Caldwell
Around Acworth magazine asked senior adults to share a memory about a special childhood Christmas gift or treasured holiday moment. We enjoyed hearing their stories and hope you will enjoy reading them.
Sharon Applin Almon, 63
There were 10 of us. I was about 8 years old and my parents could not afford Christmas gifts, but I remember that I got a baby doll that Christmas. You could change its clothes.
Annise Smith, “21-plus” 
When I was about 5 and growing up in New York, I got a wooden doll house with furniture in all of the rooms and real cloth curtains. It was a special surprise. My parents put it all together themselves. I played with it for about five years.
Jim Caruolo, 73
Lionel trains were a big item when I was a kid. When I was 6 years old I asked for one. My dad was working two jobs and yet my parents put money out for that. I asked them to take it back. I still have it today. It is a prized possession.
Karen Lekan, 64 
When I was 8 or 9, I got a Barbie and case to keep it in. I carried it around everywhere and I played with it for many years. I also remember that every Christmas all the girls in my family made a Polish cookie called Kolacky. We made it with nut filling and apricot.
Phil Kensinger, 95
When I was 6 or 8 everyone had bicycles and I really wanted one, it sure beat walking. My parents got me one and it was stored in the attic until Christmas. It was ideal. I still remember what it looked like. It was blue and white.
Eleanor Kensinger, 91 
I was 17 during World War II and I still believed in Santa Claus. Black shoes with heels were popular and I wanted a pair. We had to ration everything and you couldn’t get many things. We were lucky to have food. For Christmas, I got a pair of brown shoes with heels and they were the ugliest shoes I ever saw. But they fit! I was glad to have them.
Holly Klein, 70
When I was about 5 years old I got two dolls, a Madame Alexander bride doll and a baby doll. My brother got a Lionel train. My brother still has the train and I still have the bride doll. The box she came in finally fell apart, but I keep her in my closet and take her out from time to time and show my daughters.
Carolyn Irwin, 82 
When I was 10 years old my mother was expecting a baby and everyone was focused on that. A package came and my father said it was for my mom and the baby. But it was for me. It was a beautiful skating doll. She looked like Sonja Henie, the Olympic skater. After Christmas, at school, we had a parade of dolls and a contest. She was the prettiest and won. I was so happy.
Diane Kornacki, “over 21”
I love animals. When I was 8, I got my first puppy. I really wanted a puppy and I did not know I was getting one. She was a white Boxer. I couldn’t believe it.
this was in Belgium, first Christmas after the liberation, my Mom took me away from our village into the city of Ghent. Hoping that we would see some decoration, they were sparce but trucks with American soldiers passed us by all yelling “Merry Christmas” , my Mom wept………it was sinking in……………we were liberated………. I draged my feet, tired of this victory walk…I was a teen ager….so to encourage my walk…she rang a door bell and started to run around the corner….I had no choice but to run after her …….less we would be caught in our mischief…..