Nutcrackers

When I was a little girl I loved the Nutcracker ballet.  The girl in the nutcracker is named Clara and although my Clara is named after a great grandmother it didn't hurt that she is also the main character in my favorite ballet.  I don't know why or how I was even introduced to it. For those of you who haven't noticed I don't really have a ballerina build but every year at Christmas time I would try to watch it on TV.  One year my parents were going out and they told me I could watch it while they were gone.  Well, my older brother and sister would have none of that and they didn't let me watch it.  I cried and cried.  A few years later my parents started me a collection of nutcrackers.  The first one was sent from one of my Dad's football players (Aaron Alder) who was serving a mission in Germany.  Each year for Christmas my parents would get me a nutcracker.  Well, this year I had finished decorating my home all but my box of nutcrackers.  I decided I was too tired and I didn't want to get the box down.  A few days later I had a surge of energy (I wish I knew where it came from) and I decided to get out my nutcrackers.  How did I ever think I could possibly celebrate Christmas without these fine handsome men???

I don't collect nutcrackers anymore but as I unpacked each one I was reminded of a person or time that is special and sentimental to me.  I have a nutcracker from Scotland, one from Hawaii, a Dodger one, a Mickey Mouse one, my aunt Mikki gave me my Granny's (whom I am named after) nutcracker.  I have one from a neighbor who gave it as an apology after not being very kind to me (yes that was in Peccole Ranch).  I think my very favorite one is a tiny ornament that my parents gave to me one year when money was tight and that was all they could afford.  I love my army of handsome soldiers.  Thanks Mom and Dad for starting this collection of memories for me.