Family News [2]

Christmas was magical when I was a little girl. As an only child I was somewhat spoiled and the person most responsible for that was my "Pa." He was my mother's father and spent every week-end at our house, and during the Christmas season stayed with us for a week at a time. His name was Fred Fowler, but everyone called him "Pa."

He was so very generous with actual gifts for his only grandchild, granting nearly every request made. But the best gift of all was the time he spent with me, telling stories of his childhood on a farm in Missouri, teaching me card games and listening to me play the piano.

"Pa" encouraged me to make up stories and write them down for him to read. I think that was the beginning of my interest in writing.

We listened to the radio. That's right, there was no TV back then. My parents would not let me listen to radio programs like "The Green Hornet" or "The Shadow" - so "Pa" and I would sneak down to the basement and listen to them. I don't think my parents ever knew!

One Christmas Eve I had a bad flu and that's when "Pa" went into full gear. He put on a puppet show for me with hand puppets, kitchen gadgets and toys. I still remember laughing so hard at his performance.

To this day I think he was the most cheerful person I have ever met. He has been gone a long time, but brings a smile to face even now when I think of him.

Colleen Lowe Fenrich