New Year's Eve at Grandmom & Grandpop's House

[Marianne Shlegle Solan]

Beside the bags in the basement and the gag-gifts, which was always a lot of fun, I remember the big Christmas Tree (big to me, anyway) with all the candy canes with ribbons. Uncle Frank's wife, (I think, I can't remember her name - I'm so bad!) would hand out the candy canes and there would be a dime hidden in one of them for the lucky 'winner'! I was never that lucky :-(

[Brian Casey]

Does anyone know how the bag sale thing got started? I seem to remember someone telling me that Grandmom always donated whatever money was collected to a charity. Or was it a medical research thing... like the heart association or something like that?

But was that something that Grandmom's family did when she was a child? I'm just curious if anyone knows how that got started.

[FRANCES]

UNCLE DAN HAD ASTHMA AS A CHILD THE DONATIONS WENT TO THE ASTHMA FOUNDATION I BELIEVE
I DON'T REMEMBER IF UNCLE DAN WAS IN A HOSPITAL OR NOT BUT SOMEHOW THE FOUNDATION HELPED GRANDMOM SOOOOOOO SHE DONATED THE MONEY ASK YOUR DAD BUT I BELIEVE THEY SENT HER LETTERS OF THANK YOU EACH YEAR

[Marianne Shlegle Solan]

I know the charity was the Asthma Foundation, as Uncle Dan had very bad asthma as a child. One of the Aunts can probably tell us how it got started...

[Brian Casey]

I definately remember the candy canes with the dime. I totally forgot about Uncle Frank and Aunt Dot... but even now, I can't even picture them in my mind. Anyone have any pictures of them? Or even how they are related to us? Gotta get Larry to put the family tree up, I just don't remember some of the 'branches'.

[Marianne Shlegle Solan]

Here is a picture of Uncle Frank and Aunt Dot with Grandmom and me - 1973. Do you remember them now?

[Maureen Day Campbell]

I probably have some pics of Uncle Frank and Aunt Dot. I'll look. Uncle Frank was Grandmoms brother. He's was a sweet heart.................

[FRANCES]

uncle frank is grandmom's brother....i think i do have a picture somewhere i'll find it.

[Larry]

I remeber the candy canes on the tree very clearly. I don't think I ever won the dime, but I remember huge bushy trees, and going up and picking a candy cane. Just one of the many things that made New Year's special.
I remember the pork and sourkraut too - and we all still do this every year (including yesterday)!!

(not as much fun as the bags or the candy canes, but still a tradition right??)

[FRANCES]

REMEMBER TO HAVE PORK AND SAURKRAT ( LIKE GRANDMOM ALWAYS HAD)FOR GOOD LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR
HAPY NEW YEAR

[Brian Casey]

Pork and sauerkraut (and mashed potatoes)... New Year's day staples. They were certainly on the menu in THIS Casey cousin's household! Makes the house smell great too!