As we head into the climax of the holiday season, it's very easy to get a downright out-of-breath feeling. The decorations, the buying, the frenzy -- all of these can add up to enthusiasm, excitement, and then - exhaustion!

I often think of a conversation I had with Auburn's old-timer, Molly Tamburo. Listening to her describe her family Christmas amounted to one of the most interesting “Gray Power” interviews I ever experienced. She had an open heart, too, for folks of other faiths who might be celebrating in a different way. Here's what Molly told me.

“It was just so exciting to us children,” she said. “But that was a far simpler time, with simple gifts, if any. There were the wonderful traditional foods and the family visits. But we had no large credit card balances to worry about later! Back then, there were no gift-buying orgies or frantic last days to be sure everything would be just perfect.

“One thing that always made us kids realize Christmas was coming was the Salvation Army black kettles. They were all over, with people from the service organizations ringing the bells to help collect for the needy. And on the corner where Crosman Jewelers is, there always stood the little Salvation Army band playing carols. People would gather around and listen to the music and the message, no matter how cold it was.

The Sisters at Holy Family School would tell us that the weeks of Advent were here, which meant preparation for the Christmas holy day that we would be celebrating soon. We would announce to everyone on our way home from school that Christmas would soon be here.

“My earliest recollection of Christmas is of our first tree,” said Molly. “One day, my Dad proudly dragged home a large, real Christmas tree. I watched Mother and Dad decorate the tree and it looked beautiful. Mother had bought little clip-on holders for the candles that would light the tree. Dad lighted the candles and I was ecstatic. Then, suddenly, the tree burst into flames! The paper decorations were too close to the candles. I can still see my Dad dragging the tree out of the house and my mother throwing pails of water on it to douse the flames.

I was very young, but this is indelibly etched on my mind. So much for my first tree. You can imagine my disappointment!”

“I think back to when I was a small child. My mother would start a week before Christmas to bake wonderful pastries and special breads for our two traditional meals. Christmas Eve was very special for us, and we would have two completely different menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

“At that time, the Eve was a fasting time and we had delicious meatless dishes. After eating, we usually had company and would play our favorite game, Lotto, now called Bingo. We munched on fruit, nuts, roasted chestnuts and the tasty pastries and breads Mother had made.

“As we grew older, our delight was to go to the beautiful Midnight Mass. We would walk a long distance to the church. Coming home, I can remember that we would sing Christmas carols all the way.

“We were allowed to stay up for a short time after Midnight Mass. A little more Lotto, a little more munching. We did hang our stockings up and usually found them in the morning filled with oranges, nuts and small gifts.

On Christmas Day, we had a wonderful meal -- soup, pasta, roast chicken, potatoes, salad and many more special dishes. We would have visitors all day long, many of them. All this was truly enjoyed.

“Through all these activities, we always were aware of what Christmas was really all about. It was exciting to see the beautiful Creche that was erected at church to hold the Holy Family, the shepherds, the sheep, the Magi and the sweet Baby placed in the manger. Yes, it was wonderful, but it was a simpler time in the old days.”

“Now I have several great-grandchildren. I hope some of our old traditions will filter through to them and they will always remember the true meaning of Christmas.”

Molly Tamburo had an open heart for all and at Christmas, took pleasure in reminding her family of other holidays, such as the story of the Jewish lights. “I have always read with great interest,” she said, “The story of the Jewish feast of Hanukkah, the eight-day festival of lights. More than 2,000 years ago, when Jewish soldiers recaptured their holy temple from larger armies, they found most of the lamp oil inside the temple had been destroyed by the enemy.

Only a one-day supply was left. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days until new oil could be obtained. This parallels in some ways the old miracles found in the Holy Bible.

I have often sent Jewish friends of mine greeting cards for their special days.”

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Shalom” to all our readers.

Dorothy Nelson lives and writes in Auburn.