Christmas was the most significant day in Alan Ladd's life

Straight from the heart story by one who, as a boy, never dared to imagine that Christmas for him ever could be real.

Sue and I start our Christmas lists and our shopping in August to get ready in time. This may sound a little over-enthusiastic — but we love Christmas like no other day in the year.

This Christmas for the first time we will be away from home. Even in Europe, where we'll be making pictures, and in Switzerland, where we plan to spend the holidays, we will have a grand Christmas. First, we'll all be together - and since we packed a box of our Christmas tree ornaments, the old familiar ones, some more loved for their tarnished tinsel service (they hold memories of ten years' back) to take along—we'll have our regular tree. And anyone we meet without a family circle for Christmas—will be with us. That's the way we like it.

Christmas, with us, is almost a ritual. The format is always the same. Last year's could have been the year before—or even the year before that. Christmas cards received from friends are strung on ribbons criss-cross the ceiling of our living room. Mistletoe is hung in strategic places. The same colored lights are twined in with the green bushes in front of the door with the wreath in place and big Santa Clauses that light saying a Merry Chrisimas!

We've been wrapping presents for days, and I couldn't resist I never can—giving Sue hers before Christmas. I couldn't wait to see her eyes light at the green Chrismas table cloth, red reindeer and sleigh I'd found in a little shop. I always vow I'll make her wait, but there I am handing it to her and saying, "Open it. Go ahead. I've got another one for you for Christmas morning." Then, naturally, we have to set the table—to see how Christmasy it is. And Lonnie (nine) and David (five) are wide-eyed—except Lonnie looks the wiser. Laddie (fourteen) and Carol Lee (nineteen) say it's beautiful. We all beam—for we know that every Christmas it will come out of its box along with the rest of the Christmas decorations that we carefully pack away each New Year's day.