As “women of a certain age” we can do whatever we want when it comes to celebrating special days and times. We can drink that champagne at lunch if we so desire. Deciding to eat cake for breakfast is one of my favorites. Who say’s we can’t do it? So why not have Christmas in October, or at least the memories of Christmas past.
We can skip over Columbus Day, Halloween and even Thanksgiving, and go directly to Christmas and all of the joy that it brings. No matter who you are, the sights and sounds of Christmas will always somehow put you in a better mood. I’m not talking about Christmas shopping, malls, discounts that aren’t discounts–I’m talking about Christmas trees, nutcrackers and of course Santa himself.
As a child in Longview, Texas McIntosh Drug Store would open up a Christmas store next to their downtown pharmacy every year. I can’t really remember if it opened in October or November, but I do remember the excitement that I had visiting it each year. The sights, sounds and even the smells always seemed to work magic on everyone who went inside those magical doors. As with everything, there is no McIntosh Drug Store anymore, there are only pharmacies. Their magical Christmas store is just a memory for those of us who were fortunate enough to have lived it as children–children who believed in Santa long after they should.
To my surprise and delight in Tyler, Texas they have a Christmas store appropriately named The Christmas Store. It is complete with the wonderful sights, sounds and smells of happiness. When I visited it recently, I knew that Christmas was still some time away, but the magic had me at the first blinking light.
My Christmas in October bought back childhood memories which always warm my heart. Who cares if it’s too early to start to think about the joys of Christmas? As women of a certain age, we can have Christmas whenever we want.
Celebrate each day. Why wait? Remember “thisisyourbestyear”.
The Christmas Store is located at 121 E. 8th St., Tyler, TX 75701
2 Comments
Lisa Mackey
December 21, 2017 at 7:18 pmI was looking up the McIntosh Christmas store and came across your blog. I was born in Longview in 1959. I started visiting that “magical” store in my pre-teens. I still have some ornaments from 1972 or so. You described it perfectly. Are you an LHS grad? What year? 1977 for me. Oh, I’ve been to the Tyler store several times, but it just couldn’t compete with the store on TYLER ST. in LV. It had something to do with those steep stairs transporting one to a different place.
thisisyourbestyear
December 21, 2017 at 8:27 pmHello, the McIntosh Christmas store was indeed magical. We would go several times during the season. I graduated in 71. My sister Carol Cooper graded in 76. Thank you so much for reading, and remember “thisisyourbestyear”.
Maricia