True Story Tuesday - Christmas Style!

It's True Story Tuesday and this week Rachel over at Once Upon A Miracle has a Christmas theme going. You have to read her's...funny does not describe it!

Some of you may know that I am the oldest of four children, with there only being 15 months between me and my twin brothers. Yep, Mama had 3 children in 15 months. Yes, four children...me in October 1964, twin boys in January 1966 and then my sister in November 1968. And to make it even better, Mama graduated in May 1963 at the age of 17, turned 18 in November, got married January 1964 and 9 months, 1 week and 4 days later I was born --20 days before she turned 19. Four children that close in age with parents that young meant we had some C.R.A.Z.Y. times growing up. One of the best is a very juicy story that I'd like to share with you.

We were the only grandchildren on my mama's side of the family for a very long time but that didn't mean we were spoiled by any means. My grandparents weren't well off but they weren't hurting for money either. The girls would normally get a new outfit that Grandma had sewn for us and the boys would also get some item of clothing. There was always that rare chance that we would get a toy(!) or something...anything...other than clothes.

So it's Christmas 1974...four children aged 9, 8 and 5 opening presents at Grandpa & Grandma's house. But wait -- that's not a clothes box! Could it be -- are we getting something other than clothes??? Those boxes were so heavy - we couldn't imagine what was in them. Once we opened them it was more like we couldn't BELIEVE what was in them...even at our young ages we knew this was just not right.

You see, my sweet, precious, Cajun Grandma has always been a little, like they say here in the South "1/2 a bubble off of plumb." Crazy but not in a keep-her-in-the-attic kind of way. But this year -- this year Grandma had outdone herself, let me tell you!

She decided to give each of us 6-packs of juice that year. Juice? Yep...you know those little 5.5 oz. cans of juice? That's what we each got -- our own six-pack of juice. I got V-8 (which I loved and still do except now I like it with a little vodka and Tabasco). My sister got Mott's Apple Juice. One brother got Treesweet Orange Juice. Do remember that one? Ugh -- it was always so bitter! The other brother, well let's just say he didn't make out as well as the rest of us. He got Treesweet GRAPEFRUIT!!! I know what you're thinking, "Who in their right mind gives an 8-year old grapefruit juice?" Did you forget? My Grandma does that's who!

We're now 45, 44 and 41 and we STILL laugh about the time Grandma gave us juice for Christmas.

And in case you're wondering, Grandma is still around and 86 years old!