By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times
Everyone has memories of Christmases past and hopes for Christmases yet to come. Some of those memories are traditions set down by those family members who came before us, and others might be unique holiday happenings that we have personally experienced as the years pass. Whether those memories involve family gatherings large or small, they usually involve special presents, treats, and perhaps time spent with a special someone.
As the temperatures drop and the snow begins to fall, it is a time of reflection on the year that has gone by and anticipation of what the coming year will bring. As holiday music fills the airwaves and the inevitable (multiple) versions of A Christmas Carol dominate both live television and streaming services, we all begin dreaming of a White Christmas. And as we follow the snowplow along city and county streets while ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’ plays on the local radio station, it might be nice to know the hopes and memories of those whose job it is to get us through the New Year and beyond.
“Most of my memories of Christmas revolve around family,” Grayson Mayor Troy Combs said. The holidays to Combs meant being able to spend time with both his immediate and extended family. “That’s what Christmas is to me,” he said. “It’s about being together with your loved ones. I also remember all of the special church services around the holidays growing up.”
The general festiveness was something Combs said loomed large in his holiday memories. And holiday music played a large part of that, whether it was special live music performed by local churches and organizations or his grandmother having holiday music playing around her home when he would visit.
“And the presents were always nice,” Combs joked. As a child it was exciting to wake up Christmas morning to find the toy you really wanted under the tree.
As the Mayor of Grayson, Combs said that if he could give a gift to the residents of Grayson it would be something to help them through the cold days of winter.
“If I could give them a gift it would be a warm hat and gloves, or coveralls,” Combs said. “Something to keep everyone safe and warm.”
Olive Hill Mayor Jerry Callihan said that the Christmas he remembers was always centered around his grandparents. Christmas, he said, changed when they passed away; but as much as it changed, there is still a holiday continuity because Callihan himself has become the grandparent.
“It’s all about the grandkids now,” Callihan said. “You go from being the kid to being the one who makes sure the kids are healthy and happy.”
Callihan spoke while downtown in Olive Hill with the street department hanging wreaths and garland to help the city residents and visitors get into the Christmas spirit.
“There were a lot of happy kids at the recent Christmas Tree lighting, and that’s what we want to see,” Callihan said. “We want the kids, and everyone else too, to enjoy the Christmas season. And we are willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”
Teaching kids about the Christmas spirit, he said, is the best way to keep that spirit alive.
“If I could do anything for the people of Olive Hill it would be to bring everyone together for a huge Christmas dinner,” Callihan said. “A huge Christmas party where all the children get presents and have a whole day of free events celebrating Christmas.”
Carter County Judge Executive Brandon Burton said most of his early Christmas memories come from being at his grandparents’ home and all the family coming in to enjoy the holidays. Burton said he was blessed with large families on both his parents’ side, and this made the holidays an event.
“We always had good food and a good time,” Burton said. “It was exciting being around such large families and all the cousins. And of course we were excited about the presents too.”
Burton said that Christmas has always been special, even now that he is in the grandparent role, because spending time with family and loved ones at any age is what is truly important around the holidays.
“God has blessed me with such a great family, then and now,” Burton said. “And the times when we get together means so much.”
When asked what he would give the residents of Carter County for Christmas, Burton had a quick first answer.
“If I could, I would give them an umbrella that would keep the snow off of them for the next three months,” Burton laughed.
But he said honestly that he would simply like to help them in any way he is able, because he never ceases to be amazed at their resilience.
“In the last three and a half years I have seen how the people in this county really step up in hard times,” Burton said of Carter County residents. “I have seen them put shoes on people’s feet, I have seen them feed people, and I have seen a lot of people go out of their way to make someone else’s life better.”
That willingness to help, Burton said, is magnified during the holiday season and carries throughout the year.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
