Kernen Christmases had always been held dear when my father was young because the three boys and one daughter lost their mother at an early age. The children were reared in the family saloon by their father and they looked forward to the holidays when aunts came to town bringing many gifts to place under a special tree.
We did not know that the Christmas of 1960 was the last one Molter J. Kernen would spend with his family. It would always be remembered as the Red Firetruck Christmas because for his two young grandsons, Jimmy and D.J., he had his mind set on having that gift for them from Santa under the McKay Street living room tree.
Miles was stationed in Japan and while awaiting the birth of the second Furgason child, D.J. and myself lived around the corner on Sherman Avenue with Grandma Furgason.
Each weekday evening we would meet my Father at Preston and Belmar Drive where he was dropped off by his employer, the owner of a local supermarket.
As the Christmas season progressed I heard about the Red Firetruck set on display at the supermarket and also the discussion of my mother saying the purchase would not fit in the family budget.
I was not privy to the fine details, but on Christmas morning, the set was under the Tree, the front part for one grandson and the back part for the other with the little red firemen figures divided between the two boys.
It was another perfect Kernen Christmas for two young Grandsons.