[December 25, 2023] My two-year-old sister Terri spotted the little bird first and called out in the calmest voice, “Mommy, a birdie.” It was a small bird in a small nest, maybe a sparrow or finch, and was hidden within the branches of our new Christmas tree. Now, the bird was flying in a panic inside our living room.
The year 1958 was the year I began to grow up. It was also the best and most Merry Christmas ever in the Satterfield family, all five of us. I turned six years old that year. So it was no surprise to my Mom when I told her I wanted a “real Indian hatchet” for Christmas. Hint: I didn’t get one because I might chop out my eye. I only recently realized what Christmas was about, and like so many young kids, this was a time to give and receive gifts and to learn about the days of Jesus. It was an exciting time, and I was thoroughly excited. In this particular year, Christmas was the best part.
I don’t know how, but Dad found a beautiful spruce tree to decorate. These trees are rare in northeast Louisiana. It smelled so good, and it was the same tree type I would get for my children many years later. It was the classic Christmas tree, like the ones in fairy tales. Mom and Dad would decorate our tree. I was most attracted to the colored bubble light lamps. Inside each was water heated to the point that air would bubble through them; the effect was mesmerizing. And the tinsel was draped heavily, glittering at every angle.
Underneath the tree, presents were increasing in number. Two presents each for us kids, a small toy, and one piece of clothing to wear. And child-crafted presents for our parents. I had gotten my brother and sister to help me with Mom and Dad’s presents. Also, there are presents for our two sets of grandparents and Aunt Rea.
The week before Christmas, there was a tremendous celebration at our church. I was in a well-rehearsed play about the birth of Jesus. I was to be one of the three Wisemen presenting gifts at the manger scene, and I was dressed in garb that fit those times. I was scared in front of an audience of about 150 local folks, with standing-room only, a good turnout for a town with a population of only about 800.
Santa Claus was coming, and all of us kids were ready. Milk and cookies were set out. Our rooms were clean, and clothes folded. Dad had taken my brother and me to the barber only a few days before, and we had close-cropped hair. Mom told us stories of Christmas past and why we celebrated this time of year. Being a six-year-old, it was hard to take all this in. That is why I was to begin growing up. Life in a good family, with a mother and father, is crucial for our development.
And then it was Christmas morning. We kids were up before dawn, standing in the living room and staring slack-jawed at the most beautiful site. I was the first to notice that Santa Claus had drunk the milk and eaten the cookies. Mom had given us strict rules about waiting on our parents before touching anything. I nearly blew a gasket. Finally, Mom and Dad came into the room. “Remember what Christmas is really about,” my Mom said. I’m not sure I even heard her.
A few hours later, we were packed into the car, an old 1946 green two-door Chevrolet Fleetline and traveled to my Mom’s parents’ house. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and our grandparents were all assembled in one place. The noise was loud and continuous. Bigmama had us sing a few traditional Christmas songs. I couldn’t remember the words, but she knew them intimately. At the end of the day, we were so exhausted nothing could keep us awake.
This time was the best Christmas ever in the year 1958.
This was also the year our favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees, won the World Series. I had my first day of school. America launched the world’s first communication satellite, a jump in the space race. And on December 18th, just one week before Christmas Day, the satellite broadcast a pre-recorded Christmas message from U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, becoming the first broadcast of a human voice from outer space.
——-——
Please read my books:
Another great letter. Please read the entire series. Link here:
https://www.theleadermaker.com/granddaughter-letters/
❤❤❤❤
Gen. Satterfield, I’m loving this series more each time you publish one of your letters. ❤ Please continue these into the new year. Best wishes to you and your family (and dog) for many years to come. 🐶 Thank you for your contribution to helping us all be better people. 🕛
📅 Happy New Year (soon). I look forward to his letters to his granddaughter next year. 📅
Yep, HAPPY NEW YEAR ….. 3️⃣1️⃣🕛1️⃣
I’ve been following this series since it began several months ago. I want to say that this is classic Gen. Doug Satterfield. He is telling us what made him who he is today. So far, these are the early years and we are only part way into his pre-adult life. It is becoming more clear that our early life makes a great deal of difference in our character.
I’m another one of your fans that is just loving this series of letters to your granddaughter. I hope that you make it to your teenage years because that is where most of us actually develop our character into something that will take us throughout life. Thank you, Gen. Satterfield.
Great comment, Ronny. 👍
“This time was the best Christmas ever in the year 1958.” — Gen. Satterfield. Man, that was indeed a great year to be an American.
Gen. Satterfield, I know that many have said they love this series of letters to your granddaughter and I agree with them. What I find most valuable is how you link these experiences from your childhood to your character. I see that in your writings most of the times, not all but most. These letters are very entertaining, so please keep them coming to us. thanks!!!!!
Gibbie, well said. I hope they never end. ✌
What a lovely letter. I’m new to this website and the very first article I read is exceptional because it is directed at Mr. Satterfield’s grandchild. I also started reading all the letters and they are impressive. Nothing like leaving something to your grandchildren that will last forever. I hope these letters continue, just my thoughts. Sir, great job. You have a new fan. Oh, Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all.
Thank you, sir!
Sir, thanks.
The BEST website ever ! ❤
It is wonderful to have this website, generated by Gen. Doug Satterfield and the freedom to read it and learn and expand our ability to be better people. That is why I am saying MERRY CHRISTMAS. I will also be a better American Patriot this year. Are you with me?
AG, I’m with you, as I’m sure we all are, and Merry Christmas to you as well. 🎄
We all are ….. see you guys and gals tomorrow when there might be another letter to his granddaughter.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all those here and to their families. 👨👩👦👦🌃🥂🎇🎄
Thank you Bryan. And to you and your family – Merry Christmas
Thx Bryan. Merry Christmas! 🎄
Wow, another great letter to Gen. Satterfield’s granddaughter. No. 45. Hard to imagine that there are so many. I hope there will be many more.
Please accept this word as kindness Gen. Doug Satterfield . —- Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
In just a few days, the year will end and we will enter into 2024. Let us all hope that things in America will improve. I know that with Pres. Joe Biden, that is unlikely because he is a criminal along with his family. Let us pray to get someone elected who is for America and not for themselves like Biden’s crime family who can be bought with Chinese and Russian money.
OUch, tell us what you think Kenya. HA HA HA HA…… Merry Christmas.
Be careful, Kenya, the DOJ and CIA and FBI are working for Joe Biden and they may start looking for you. Yep, we are a police state and don’t yet know it.
MERRY CHRISTMAS …………….. 👩👧👧🎄❄️☃️
A great year and a great set of folks reading this leadership blog by Gen. Doug Satterfield. Thank you sir, and Merry Christmas.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all. I just wanted to note that there are many folks here that post their thoughts on Gen.S’s leadership forum and I do appreciate them all. Sometimes my mind is changed, other times not. But these letters to his granddaughter by Gen. Satterfield is a new way to get his message across that our past does influence us and having good parents makes a difference.
…. and hard work and luck and a great attitude and etc.
Gen Douglas my friend. Another thing we share.
NY Yankees baseball . Christmas time with family special. We gathered at big mama house our grandmother. The house smelling good from the food; singing Christmas songs, presents 🎁 under the tree.
Amazing, YES!
Another great letter to his granddaughter. Thank you Gen. Satterfield. Merry Christmas to you, your wife Nancy, and to your entire family.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
🎅🎉🎁🔔🎄
Thanks you, Gen. Satterfield for this Letter to your Granddaughter. I hope she appreciates what you have written for her and for us.
Stacey, yes, she will. 🎄
Dude, agreed, and one of the reasons is that she will have been influenced by Gen. Satterfield as her grandfather and that means there is hope she will be raised to hate America like so many progressive liberals are doing to their children and harming them in the process.
YEP!!!!
Merry Christmas, all.
Just a note that it is not too late to get copies of Gen. Doug Satterfield’s newest books on Amazon, links above. I just wanted to note that his latest book “55 Rules for a Good Life” is the best one of the year. Get yourself and your relatives a copy. do it now.
https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/
You won’t regret the decision to get yourself one.