“If you could go back in time and repeat a winter holiday season, how old would you be? Where would you be? Who would you be with?” The men on the mainline had interesting responses:
Sam Johnson: “I would be eightyears old again. I would be with my brother in Charleston, South Carolina. We were trying to see Santa Claus, but we had fallen asleep the previous year. We were determined that year and stayed up late. At about 12 midnight, we found out who Santa was. It was our mom and dad. All our lives, we thought Santa was a White guy with a beard. We found out that everything we got was from mommy and daddy. Raising my kids, I told them that Santa Claus is mommy and daddy.”
Philip Senegal: “It would be 1986. I would be 19 years old again. It would be in Oakland, California. I was with a young lady named Philis. I would go back not just to relive that time, but to go back to make it better for her. She was pregnant with my first daughter.”
William Tolbert: “I would be 10 years old again in Oklahoma. I would be with my mom during Christmas time. She had a tradition of telling us folk tales and we’d drink hot chocolate. The scene would be a Christmas tree and Christmas tree lights. It was the most carefree time in my life.”
Matthew Nguyen: “I estimate that it would be 1993 or 1994. I was in second or third grade, eight or nine years old. It was Christmas Eve at a Catholic Church with my family and Santa Claus was giving out toys to all the kids.”
Raymond Bodine: “I would go back to New Year’s Eve in 1982. I was totally alone at my farm in Tulare County. I had met my wife on a New Year’s Eve, but my wife and kids had left me a year earlier in 1981 and moved to Oregon. I would change that moment and be with someone instead of being alone.”
Somdeng Thongsy: “I would go backto 1993. I was 13 and it was Thanksgiving. I was with my family. Everyone in my family was there and I was very happy.”
Syyen Hong: “I was nine years old in Long Beach, California. I was with my mom, sister, my younger brother, my four aunts, three uncles, and my grandparents. I was happy because we had three turkeys.”
Sam Hearnes: “It’s 1995, Christmas Day. I was 18 years old and my dad dropped me off at my daughter’s great-grandmother’s house. If I could go back and relive that day again, I would spend time with grandmother in Fresno, California.”
Christopher Marshall: “It was 1995. The first time I had Christmas with my daughter. I was in Long Beach, California. We visited my parents and grandparents.”
Eddie Herena: “I would go back to when I was 21. I was living in San Jose with my girlfriend. It was my first Christmas living independently and not confined or having to answer to anyone. I had my own place and my own money. It was the best Christmas ever.”
