CNJ+ November 2025

A FOND REMEMBRANCE OF THE CHRISTMAS OF 1963 By Richard Mabey Jr. ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES BUYERS ESTATE LIQUIDATORS

You have always been there for your mom, and now GoldenYears Care is here for you

Ad M

M

For S

The Christmas of 1963 holds a most endearing place in my heart. For it was a time when I took on a very special proj ect and completed it all by myself. I was 10 years old at the time and in the fifth grade. I was now in the Webelos Cub Scouts. It was now mid Novem ber, and I was about to face a most challenging pursuit. Dad had bought me a full-sized piece of ply wood at the Circle Lum ber on Route 23. The

found a certain comfort in listening to “Rambling With Gambling,” with the show’s host John Gam bling. I remember that it took me the greater part of that Saturday, to complete the fun-filled project. I was immensely proud of my self. I had set up the fin ished product on two saw horses. It was a sight to see, the little Plasticville homes and stores, neatly arranged on the big piece of plywood, with all the painted roads and painted grass abounding. I had completed the entire proj ect, all by myself, from soup to nuts. I remember the Christmas of 1963 with great fondness. My little village brought a certain joy and festive feeling to our Christmas Tree that year. I was all so proud of that little under-the-tree village. There is a time for synergy, and working together with people, and holding to the old, one for all and all for one outlook. However, there is something to be said for working alone to paint a landscape, to write a poem, to compose a song, to plan out a marketing strategy, or to build a little village from a big piece of plywood, a few little cans of paint and some Plasticville buildings. Sometimes, we underestimate a child’s ability to reach new heights and accomplish wonderful things. As a parent, a grandparent, an aunt, an un cle, a teacher, or another adult role in a child’s life, there is a tendency to want to jump in, to help the child with a project that they are working on. Per haps one of the greatest gifts that we could ever give a child, is the trust and encouragement to take on a project, completely on his or her own. Love is the single most powerful force in the uni verse. And, sometimes a great love we can give to someone, is to step back and allow them to accom plish a tough task, all by themselves. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com. • Paintings, Prints, Bronzes • Estate Jewelry • Coin & Stamp Collections • Judaica • Costume Jewelry MOVING or DOWNSIZING? CALL US!! WE BUY VINTAGE LIQUOR WILL TRAVEL ENTIRE TRI-STATE AREA FREE ESTIMATES 346 PALISADE AVE, BOGOTA WE BUY ANYTHING OLD. ONE PIECE OR HOUSE FULL. WILL TRAVEL. ANTIQUE & ESTATE BUYERS WE PAY CASH FOR SINGLE ITEMS TO ENTIRE ESTATES! • Sterling Flatware Sets ANTIQUE STERLING 201-880-5455 CELL 917-887-6465 Military Collections Wanted Swords, Knives, Helmets, Etc. • Watches, Clocks, Pocket Watches • Chinese & Japanese Artwork & Porcelain • Sports Collectibles • Comic Books • Old Toys • Records • Cameras • Lamps • Cameras • Lamps • Military Collections TOP $

“The always origin period chant try’s f They p streng around militar plies w “In 1 itime steams States ful cro propu 250,00 Marin 6,700

Yours truly at 10 years old, during the Christmas of 1963, kneeling before my little Plasticville Village.

Medicaid/J.A.C.C. Covered Service

Call UsToday For ATour or Info! (732) 851-6640 www.GoldenYearsCareNJ.com • Medical AppointmentTransportation • Around-the-clock attention • Physical & OccupationalTherapy In House • Free Door-to-DoorTransportation • Delicious Food Options (Spanish, Russian, Italian & more) • Onsite & Offsite Activities: (Ping Pong, Zumba, Shopping Excursions, Museums, Crafts,Trips to the Shore and much more) • Onsite Hairdresser Serving Monmouth, Middlesex & Ocean Residents Conveniently off Rt 33 and NJTurnpike Exit 8 108 Woodward Rd. Manalapan, New Jersey If your loved one needs care during the day, trust GoldenYears Care to put them in good hands!

reason Dad bought me this wonderful gift, is that I wanted to create a little village for under the Christ mas Tree. Using Dad’s old Plasticville stores and houses, I was going to create my masterpiece by painting roads and sidewalks and green grass onto this big piece of plywood. It was a project that was going to fulfill one of the requirements for commu nity living for my Arrow of Light Award, the high est rank that a Cub Scout can earn. In mid November, Dad would leave for Maine or New Hampshire to bring New York City its Christ mas Tree. Dad made this annual journey for well over 25 years. It would mean that my father would be away from us, for a good week or so. As a child, I knew how much it meant to Dad to have such an honorable responsibility. But then, on the other hand, after a day or two, I would find myself miss ing his presence. I was determined to create my little village from the large sheet of plywood, a few little cans of paint, and the array of Plasticville stores and homes, that Dad had from his days as a teenager. I set up Dad’s workbench, in the basement of the old Mabey Homestead, as my very own Central Command. I attacked this project with a certain amount of con fidence, mixed with a pinch of self doubts and anx ieties. I worked alone, while Dad was working all so hard, to bring New York City’s its tall and towering Christmas Tree. It was a Saturday morning and I turned on Dad’s radio, that he had on his workbench, and listened to my father’s favorite radio station, WOR-710. I

• Free D • Health • Bi-Ling • Music • Educat indepe • Social • Fabulo • Recrea Stores Serving M tained U.S. m “Mar that re portan celebra nize M itime n From partm

for

We Offer S

Activ

32 CNJ+ | FORMERLY THE MILLSTONE TIMES

9

GUNTHERPUBLICATIONS.COM