Christmas 1990 was indeed a special one as it was Ashleigh’s first. She wasn’t quite old enough to be ‘into’ the spirit of the season, but she was beginning to make some serious wide-eyed reactions to the lights and decorations. I remember standing by the tree at Christi’s parents’ house and telling her that the lights were ‘pretty.’ She gleefully sputtered ”p-p-p-puh.” Christi and I on the other hand had just come through some seriously rough times in our relationship. In fact, we had all but broken up completely just before the holidays. We had decided to make another go of it, and I, in good faith, presented her with an engagement ring in the early part of November instead of waiting for Christmas. She accepted the rock, but it would only be about another six months and we would be on the rocks for good.
I fondly recall a couple of parties I attended before Christmas, one being the Gem City Classics dinner and party. This was my parents classic Chevy club and an annual tradition. I no longer had any interest in attending the monthly meetings or car shows but always enjoyed the Christmas celebration and enjoyed bringing Ashleigh along and having her meet (and respond frighteningly to) Santa Claus. I was hugely into Depeche Mode at the time and remember walking over from the VFW hall where we had the party to Second Time Around and scouting used CD’s from the band. There were more pictures taken at this party than almost any other aspect of this Christmas.
Mom and Ashleigh at the Gem City Classics party
Mom and Santa
Denise, less-than-enthused, and Santa
p-p-p-p-puh
Ashleigh and Satan
…but worth it for the present
A new steering wheel and a bow atop her head
Touch my steering wheel and I’ll crush your head
Me and my baby
The other party was my first Kroger Christmas party and the first one ever in Beavercreek’s history to include the baggers. This was hosted by our store manager Clint Rose and co-manager Terry Stigler at some condominium clubhouse. It was a flurry of activity - lots of eating and drinking and a live DJ who spun 45rpm records. Most likely because Christi and I were in the middle of our issues, I went stag along with some of the other baggers like Larry Abbott and James Elsman.
Elsewhere, Mom joined Dad, Denise, and me for a visit with Grandma and Oscar at their place shortly before the holiday. We snapped a couple of nice photos, one of which we were completely cognizant of the fact that it was a four-generation shot, perhaps the only one taken with Grandma Range.
Wretchedly lingering around this 1990 Christmas holiday was the fact that I was in desperate need of a haircut as this photo taken at Christi’s house in front of their tree (as well as all of the other photos in this posting) indicates.
Christmas Eve was held at our Winterset house. Dad of course wasn’t living there by that point, but came for the festivities bearing gifts. I remember that this is the year that I received my dual tape deck from him. I had wanted this so I could make cassettes from my CDs. Dad also gave me the cassette of Paul McCartney’s Tripping the Live Fantastic, but I traded it in for a CD. This was our traditional Christmas Eve with his side of the family so most likely Grandma Range, Carl and Arline, Harold, Bill and Dottie, Lora and Todd, and Robby were all in attendance.
So far, the only pictures I have found taken in our house during this Christmas are of Denise, primped and prepared for the school Christmas dance. These shots indicate the positioning of our tree in the front of the family room, rather than its usual spot in the rear corner. I supposed I begrudgingly accepted this. I don’t like change.
Denise, the tree, and the unopened gifts
Denise and her date, Dan “Braceface” English
The holiday will continue with photos of Christmas Day at Bev’s - after I had gotten a haircut…
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