Christmas 1966

I know. You're thinking, "Where's the tree? Where are the Christmas trimmings?" They're not in this picture, but I am certain that somewhere in the vicinity of this small child there is a tree and probably some presents.

This is me. I was born a week and 2 days before Christmas. So I guess you could say that I am the present this year. Notice the glass bottle. No plastic ones back then. My mother nursed all the children in our family except for me (and my brother who was adopted). I was not adopted (atleast that's what I've been told)...but for some reason, my mother's body refused to produce milk. She was under great stress and grieving at the time of my birth and I guess the result was having no milk. My second brother Tim was 8 at the time. He was put into a special home because he had severe autism. During this time in history not much was done to help children who had autism. Luckily today much more can be done. Anyway...my mother tells me that I came along as a gift from the Lord and was a big help in distracting her from her distress. You can read a story about a visit with Tim here. I don't know who the bear is next to me. It was probably placed there by my older sister, Martha. She was 2 at the time. I vaguely remember this bear. I think it talked if you pulled a string with a little plastic loop out of his back-side...but I'm not sure about this. Am I right, Mart?

Memory is a funny thing sometimes.