December 21, 2007

Christmas Supplement

Woman misses yesteryear and old-fashioned Christmas in city

By Mary C. Vinci (Special to The Criterion)

If this writer were asked today whether I like Indianapolis with all its fast life, my answer would be, “No, I prefer the beauty of our times during the early years when we were known as the city of ‘Indiana-noplace.’ ”

I loved our small-town atmosphere in a time when life was easy.

As a girl of 13, I would walk downtown from my home in Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish on the near south side to shop in the stores.

During the Christmas season, the downtown was all aglow with decorations, ­especially the L.S. Ayres department store’s front windows. I also remember the L.S. Ayres and William H. Block tearooms.

All the downtown stores were decorated.

It has been 20 years since the true meaning of Christmas was celebrated at Monument Circle with the Nativity scene, the crosses, the angels and the Star of Bethlehem as well as Santa Claus and his reindeer all decorated.

There was a shelter to house the many carolers representing groups from all over the state that came to sing at Monument Circle.

In those days, we all realized the true meaning of the Christmas season.

And, in those days, we did not need to lock our doors and windows. Now we have alarm systems. With all the crime, we don’t know if and when we may return to our homes safe and sound.

We are a growing city, but I prefer the “good old days” in the small but beautiful “Indiana-noplace.”

(Mary C. Vinci is a member of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Beech Grove.) †

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