Christmas 1991 - Video from the Hermitage House

It's Christmas! The folks had an old VHS camcorder and Dad/Lamar would pull it out from time to time ... that included holidays of course. There was a tape labeled "Christmas" and it has video from several Westra Christmases, starting in 1991.

In 1991, we were in the Hermitage House. The furniture set up isn't one I remember much (usually it was the stereo or piano there on the west side). There is a fire in the rock-lava fireplace, the stockings and other traditional Christmas decor. We'll have to check Dad's records as to where the Christmas tree came from (most were cut down from the yard).

Even though this video clip was on the VHS tape, there is no original audio, but a music track overlay (which I didn't do, or don't remember doing). All future video clips have the original audio, unlike the older ones, which never did (Old Fashioned Film and Video - Westra Classic Home Movies). 

https://youtu.be/05PcbBUfNbg

As far as family ... The Norman grandparents are there, as well as Merrill and Lorrie and their kids. Chris was the only Westra sibling married at this time, but both Scott and Jen had their significant others there (Amy and Grayson respectively). Dad/Lamar filming, we get a look around at the Christmas Eve party, and then of Christmas morning (with the traditional youngest to oldest line up down the hallway). 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Letter ~ 1991

 Christmas letter from the Westras ~ the fancy border was added for this blog post, and it was combined into one image from the original two pages. The typography indicates this was printed using the old dot-matrix printer. We were happy to find some of these Christmas letters (in 2020) and to remember the highlights from years gone past.  To enlarge, click on the link for the GoogleDoc and press the +. 

To Mom ... From Shane

 In the "scan and box" pile, there was a little piece of paper money. Quite a piece of workmanship. It is a "Mother's Day Reserve Note" ... this note is legal tender for all mothers, public and private. Drawn on the Shane Westra treasury of money, by Shane, the secretary of the treasury for the United Westra Household ... this bill is good for three work hours. THREE ... being displayed numerous times, in a variety of ways. This was the 1991 series, which would have Shane in his sophomore year. 

I wonder if Mom/Margie ever collected (I'm sure Shane has done more than three hours of work, but I wonder if the bill was ever exchanged for it ...)

2HAN3 I2 C00I ... Shane is Cool

Also included in the "scan and box" pile, was a handwritten note, on (now) aged lined paper. From Shane, to Mom. No date, so we don't know if it was something that went along with the bill above, or was from a different time/season. 

 Transcribed ...

Mom ... I always like it when you're there. If I come home from school or a different place, you'll be there. Even if you're not there right at that time, I can trust that you'll be back. I remember when I got knocked out on Chris' ice patch on the patio. I woke up in your arms. I still remember it and will for a long time. You always put up sayings around the house. I think it helps a lot to be a better person. I always read them. I love it when you make pancakes and eggs and Hillshire sausage and we all sit down and eat till we're stuffed. Love Shane

Jen - LDSingers/Snow

Wendy had gone to Snow College and had such a good experience, especially enjoying the singing group LDSingers. That was a big part in the decision of where I went to school (that, and the full tuition + fees/books + housing scholarship swayed me toward Snow). I made it into the singing group and that helped a lot socially, having that group of friends (as I hadn't really known anyone at the college going in). There were four marriages from this year (just for my own memory, John/JanelleWilmore, Dale/JanelleThompson, Ruel/TresaHaymond, Mike/JenniferFrishknect). I dated a couple of the guys myself  (going from tenor to bass).  

1989 - Christmas (Part1)     1989- Christmas (Part 2)

• at minute 12:00 there's a quartet of Mr. Santa
• just past 22:00 there's a quartet of "I'm Getting Nothing For Christmas"

Just a little easier to find me than when it's everyone! LDSingers would put on a Christmas concert, then a Spring concert, and do a spring tour.

Spring 1990 - Part 1

• at 10:30 it's "Telephone Hour" from Bye Bye Birdie

Spring 1990 - Part 2

• 2:00 "Golden Age of Rock&Roll"

My second year at Snow, I was again in the LDSingers group. As some of the guys had been in the group, gone on a mission, and then come back to Snow, there was a bit of an overlap between Wendy and I. Some fellows she knew from her time there from before their missions, I knew after they had returned. The director Brother Wilmore was there all through the years of course!

Having made friends last year, and getting an opportunity to live in a rental house owned by my Psychology professor, I was able to have several of the girls in LDs as roommates. Cindy, Lilly and I had been in LDs together last year, and Jaynee and Chris were new this year. There were three weddings that came out of this year (my roommate Jaynee and the boy next door Kevin were one, Jeff/JoyceGuymon, James/JennyWillmore). 

Christmas - 1991 (Part1)   Christmas - 1991 (Part2)

• 26:00 "Fruitcake"

Brother Willmore had uploaded all the videoed concerts he had ... I don't see my second year Spring concert up there, but I may have a copy. I'm looking to getting an old VHS tape converted. Mom and Dad were always good at coming down to watch the performances.