On December 25, 1952, Frank and I had been married for 7 months. We were settled in a three-room apartment on the second floor of my parents’ two-family house (rent was the grand sum of $12.00/month). We were making payments on a living room suite and appliances purchased from Jake Tennenbaum Furniture in downtown Cincinnati and the rest of the furnishings consisted of family hand-me-downs.
I was secretary to an executive in the TV-Radio Advertising Department of Procter & Gamble and Frank was beginning a long career with the Cincinnati Water Works. This was ….
OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS
It wasn’t a very big tree – just over four feet tall – but it was broad and bushy at the bottom and tapered to a graceful, willowy top. And the ornaments were all brand new and shiny – little glistening balls of shimmering beauty that hung so proudly on this, our very first tree. There were tiny red balls with white sleighs gliding across them, and large pagoda-like wonders of yellow and purple; and the new, freshly-hung icicles were like glimmering trickles of a cold mountain stream that wound its way over each small green limb and hung precariously in places over the tiny pine needles. Each light was a star within itself, twinkling with friendly cheer and winking at the few people whose eyes chanced to look up at the second floor window and see the little tree.
This was our first Christmas as man and wife and we had planned and prepared as was fitting for a first Christmas in our own apartment. At each window a red, snow-bedecked wreath hung grandly and on a sheet-covered cedar chest were two elaborate silver candlesticks (wedding gifts) containing bright red candles, which glittered and shone in desperate competition with the tree lights.
In the clean whiteness of the new refrigerator a cool, pink turkey was awaiting his chance to be the center of attraction at the Christmas dinner. Plans were being made for pies and cake and fresh rolls – eye-tempting and tummy-filling produce for the visiting relatives.
This was our first Christmas – the decorations. the dinner, the squat little tree – all of these traditional and beautiful things made us feel like a family at last.
From my journal – December, 1952
Hope you all have a memorable Christmas.
LILLIAN'S CUPBOARD 
dear Lillian, thank you for sharing your story with us.
so nice to read this
hugs Claudia
How lovely that you kept a journal, and that you wrote so well then, too. Thank you for sharing this glimpse of the past.
Remarkable story! Your writing is so clear and detailed without being sentimental. It felt like I was there with you.
What a touching post Lillian and such a handsome couple. Our first Christmas was in 1954, we had just purchased a 28″ trailer, so tiny but it was our first home. Bud still had two years left in college and I was working as the head cashier at the Ohio Power Company. I remember we bought a small tree and put it on top of my sewing machine cabinet. Decorated with all blue balls and silver tinsel, we thought it was the most beautiful tree in the world. Those were very special days and sometimes I would love to go back and relive just one day. Happy New Year.
Thank you for sharing your first home and first Christmas. We were all pretty much in the same boat, weren’t we? You’re right – they were very special days. Lillian
You have so many crafts, helpful hints, etc. on this site, but this is my favorite post.