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Carol Perkins: Small town department stores When small towns like Glasgow, Edmonton, and Columbia lost their department stores, something happened to our culture. Christmas shopping will never be the same as when it was walking into the National Store with its Toyland on the third floor The next earlier Carol Perkins store, Hypnotized By Carol Perkins Santa overlooked the city of Glasgow from the oversized upstairs window of the National Store. I was sure he was real. I don't know why I thought he would be standing in that window, night after night, but I had no doubt that he thought this store and this town was special. After all, with all the other places he could have landed, he chose Glasgow. Never before nor since have I felt the same about Christmas as I did when my mother took me with her Christmas shopping at the National Store. For me, it was like walking into the song, "Silver Bells." "City sidewalks dressed in holiday style." Toyland was on the third floor Toyland was on the third floor with nothing to separate it from the second level but a railing. Was it split level overlooking the ladies department? That is the way I remember it. While my mother was shopping, my brother and I headed for Toyland where we eyed all the items we hoped to get for Christmas. He examined the trucks and toy guns. I don't think there was ever a Christmas that he didn't get both. The gun came with a holster and was probably a Roy Rogers set. I was his target Christmas morning. "Stick up your hands," he would order. I am sure I ignored him. Toy trains were the most amazing The toy trains were the most amazing. I pictured myself living in that village as the trains circled around and around it. The lighting and the sounds were so memorizing. If that had been in my living room, I could have pretended for days and days. If that huge outfit had been in my living room, no one could have sat. The dolls, of course, were impressive too. Long before Barbies, I yearned for baby dolls that did something. My first interactive doll took a bottle and the water ran straight through her. Oh, what joy to change diapers! My Gerber baby doll came in a pink outfit and a blanket. A doll stroller sat under the tree with her, but this stroller was not like those of today. It was tin or some kind of metal. It definitely didn't fold. Mom spent time in the men's department My mother spent a lot of time in the men's department, looking for my father the perfect gift. He would usually get a new hat (men always wore hats), a cardigan sweater, maybe house shoes, or gloves. Every item was richly made and worth giving and would last for years. Often, she would buy a bottle of after shave for someone. I have a better memory of the men's department than of the ladies'. Most of our shopping was at night or at least after dark. The square was decorated brightly and finding a parking place was difficult. All stores normally closed by five, but during the Christmas season, they stayed open until nine. What a thrill! Now, it is unusual to find one that doesn't stay open late. The National Store also wrapped presents The National Store clerks also wrapped presents, and it was customary for a buyer to have her present wrapped. I never remember my mother wrapping gifts. There might have been a charge, but probably not very much. Try having all your presents wrapped today and you will spend a fortune. I always know that my presents from Guy will look classy under the tree because he never does his own wrapping. My grandmother Reece always bought toys for all fifteen of her grandchildren and long after she could no longer do her own shopping, she would send someone to the National Store to buy the "biggest" trucks and the "largest" dolls. She would have no part of Hot Wheels, even if that is what the boys really wanted. She would buy everyone in the family a gift too, and they all came from the National Store. The clerks liked to see her coming! We lost something from our culture When department stores began to fold in all little towns like Edmonton and Columbia and Glasgow, something happened to our culture. Mass production may give us cheaper prices, but in the process we have given up the personal touch of familiar people behind familiar counters greeting us with familiar voices. Given a day to go back, wouldn't we all like to visit Toyland one more time? Wonder whatever happened to that Santa? Email Carol at cperkins@scrtc.com Give the gift that will keep your family and friends laughing this Christmas. Give them Let's Talk About... a collection of over 70 of Carol's favorite stories, many you have never read. Send check, cash, or money order to Carol Perkins, P.O. Box 134, Edmonton, KY 42129 for the Christmas special of just $12 (regularly $15). Every stocking needs a book! This story was posted on 2009-12-13 02:39:37
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Carol Perkins:
Carol Perkins: Hypnotized Carol Perkins: On the Pond Bank Carol Perkins: GPS Carol Perkins: Deliver the Letter, The Sooner the Better Carol Perkins: The Fortune Teller Carol Perkins: Dating Carol Perkins: The Bird Carol Perkins: The Bullfight Carol Perkins: Right Now in a Minute Carol Perkins: The Harvest View even more articles in topic Carol Perkins |
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