Christmas is slowly approaching. There are gifts to wrap and strings of lights to be put up. There are traditions many families have during the Christmas season.

Now my family had a tradition and that was to go out a few days before Christmas to pick out a Christmas tree. Well, on the day that was planned, my father’s car would not start.

My father had an idea being it was snowing and there was snow on the ground and that was to take my sled to where they sold trees about eight blocks from the house in Queens Village and to pick up our tree.

This was so my mother would not be disappointed. So we were on our way and when we arrived where they sold trees on Francis Lewis Boulevard and the Jamaica area in Queens Village, we found so many beautiful Christmas trees.

My father picked out a beautiful Christmas tree. He paid the clerk, and we strapped the tree on my sled and we were on our way.

We sang Christmas carols all the way home. When we got to the house, we placed the tree in our living room so my mother could decorate the tree. She did so with much love and dedication. This was Christmas in 1958 and a Christmas I will always remember.

Frederick R. Bedell Jr.

Bellerose