Christmas wishes come true

Like many a fruitcake, the memory of a great Christmas gift seemingly never goes stale.

We asked readers to send in tales of their most memorable holiday gifts. We received wistful stories about bikes, coffee mugs, several babies (of the doll and real-life varieties) and even every little girl's greatest wish -- a pony.

Here are some of our favorites:

Marjorie Ownby Melvin

Port Royal

In early November of 1960, while shopping with my mother in Edward's 5 & 10 Store on Bay Street, (otherwise known as Edward's Five and Dime) I saw on the top shelf a beautiful bride doll. Edward's was "the store" in Beaufort where all the locals shopped for various and sundry items. I was only 8, and I will never forget that day for many reasons.

The doll was about 30-inches tall and dressed in a lovely wedding gown. She wore a pearl necklace and earrings and carried a bouquet of flowers. Her veil was simple, yet lovely. Her shoes were satin, and she was beautiful. I told my mother that I wanted her for Christmas. She replied that she would talk to Santa about it. We left it at that.

On November 29, 1960, my mother died suddenly from a brief, unexpected illness. It was going to be a sad holiday season. The anticipation of Christmas without my mom was unsettling. Yet, my father and grandmother persevered for my two older sisters, my brother and me. They, along with family and friends put their own grief aside and continued the family tradition of preparing for the season we loved so. This Christmas, through the eyes of an 8-year-old became a treasure to be forever remembered.

On Christmas, morning beneath the tree was my bride doll. If ever a child believed, it was at that moment.That gift, an inexpensive bride doll from the local dime store, became priceless to me. Throughout my life, I have received many special gifts, but none compared to this exceptional doll, this last present from my mother.

She was stored in the original box in my grandmother's cedar chest. No one ever discouraged me to play with the doll, however, I would only remove her from the chest, admire her and then place her back in the box and chest to be stored away.

In 1973, I was blessed with a daughter, and I knew that someday I would give this very special gift to her.As a child Kelly (Melvin-Collins) knew of this doll, but again we only took her out, admired her and she was then placed in the chest. Kelly never once asked to play with her. It was as if she knew this gift had special meaning.

In 1999, my daughter became engaged to Tommy Collins Jr. Prior to the rehearsal dinner, Tommy's parents, Tommy and Ann Collins, granted my request to present the doll to "my little girl" on the night of the dinner. Kelly's father, Randy Melvin and a friend built a glass and wooden doll case. I wrote the following poem and surprised Kelly with my favorite gift.

On this your wedding day I give a gift to you so fair

This bride doll is not costly yet holds value beyond compare

Because she is a special gift my mother gave to me

When I was only 8 years old beneath the Christmas tree

Although she was not there to see the joy in my eyes

I believe she watched from heaven and heard me softly cry

For as you know my mother ceased to be with us that year, still I believe

Within my heart that she always held us near

I silently thank Jesus for giving me a life

To watch my little girl become a kind and loving wife

So as you go to start a life apart from us my love, please take with you this

Special gift, as she watches from above

Her presence will emerge as you take your wedding vows, and she will send

A special prayer from high above the clouds

So take this gift my dear sweet child, and cherish it as rare

For it is passed on from your mother with special love and care

Presented to Kelly on August 6, 1999

I love you,

Mom

In April of 2008, Kelly gave birth to her own little girl, Sadie Grace. The bride doll is now displayed in her nursery. Nearly 50 years have come and gone, and yet that very special gift will continue to bless us with the memory of a mother who granted a special wish. At the time she was unaware she would not be here to see the joy she brought, but in my heart I believe she knew.

Therefore, when my young children posed the question, "Mom, is there really a Santa Claus?" My simple reply was, "As long as someone loves you there will always be a Santa Claus." This much I know is true.

Nancy Helm

Hilton Head Island

I was a 5-year-old and Christmas was coming. I remember really wanting a "two-wheeler" bike with streamers on the handlebars. Christmas morning came and there it was, shiny and new with black and white detail and the prettiest streamers coming from the handlebars! It was only until many years later (when I was a mom), that my parents admitted that the bicycle was not "new," but rather a bunch of rusty parts in two bushel baskets when they obtained it. They had spent many nights sanding and painting and refurbishing the bike so that Santa could bring a "new" two-wheeler to our house. I know that those years were difficult financially for them and that Christmas 1957 must have been a real hardship. That bicycle will always represent my parents' love. They're both gone now, but their love and the memory lives on.

Denise Friday

Bluffton

I have received many nice gifts through the years but certainly nothing can be better than a pony for Christmas at the age of 9. My mom bought Matthias for $50, an ornery Shetland that stood 9 hands high. She found a barn about 3 miles from our house where we could board him, and he stayed there till Christmas eve. In the middle of the night, my older brother rode him to our house as my mom followed with the lights of her car. He had a big ribbon on him and a winter blanket as he contently munched hay under our raised porch on Christmas morning on Cape Cod. I was completely surprised, and it was the best gift I could ever have wished for.

Joan Mullins

Bluffton

"Joan, Joan," Mom would call out. "It's time to go."

Every Saturday morning for some weeks Mom and I would take a bus to this "secret home," as I called it. Leaving the bus at our stop we would have the long walk down to this home. Once there I remember the very old, musty smell of the hall and the creaking of the wooden stairs as we climbed to the numbered apartment.

Mom would ring the bell and as a little lady opened the door, Mom would tie a hankie over my eyes and say, "No peeking."

Mom would take my hand and lead me to where I would have to step up onto some sort of plank. I had no idea what was going on, only that this lady would say "Now hold out your arm" or "I am going to take measurements" or "Don't move or I will stick you."

After weeks of this routine the visits stopped. It was nearing Christmas and now my mom told me that where she had had been taking me every week was to be my surprise Christmas gift. Now Ihad to wait with excitement to see what it was.

Finally the big day came. I tore like crazy at the beautiful wrapped box to get to this surprise. There it was -- a most beautiful ice skating outfit. The jacket was red with little blue hearts wrapped with fur and blue buttons. The skirt was blue with red hearts wrapped in fur, and there were red pants.

I was so delighted that I now had a beautiful outfit to skate in. Mom would take my brother and I for the day to Rockefeller Plaza Ice Skating Rink in New York City. Eventually the day came for us to take the train to New York City. I was so excited wearing my outfit. I was holding my skates and could not wait to get them on and show off my beautiful outfit. And not only that, I just thought I was the tops as I could finally skate holding one leg in the air.

I will never forget how special my mom made that Christmas for me. I always will remember how much fun that secret was and it was my best gift of all time.

Andrea Koenig

Bluffton

My favorite Christmas gift of all time was one that is still with me. It is not actually with me in its physical presence, but I have kept it with me in terms of my lifestyle. It led me into a hobby, and then to a passion.

When I was 5 years old, Santa Claus (aka Mom and Dad) brought me a toy stove for Christmas. While neither the stove, nor the oven, actually worked, as I was too young for that, I spent many happy hours cooking all sorts of imaginary dinners. I never lost interest in the cooking part, and started to look at the pictures and recipes in cookbooks as soon as I could read. When I was 10 years old, I actually started cooking simple things. By the time I was in high school, cooking had become my hobby.

Now it is a passion of mine. My family has asked me not to go into the cookbook section of Barnes & Noble anymore. There is no longer any space for new cookbooks. While not everything turns out to be wonderful every time, my family members are always willing guinea pigs, and my friends don't complain, either.

Although, the original stove is long gone, what started out as a simple child's gift, has been a present that has lasted me for the rest of my life.

Conrad Hartz

Beaufort

Although I've received many unique gifts for Christmas, including a puppet that started a career for me, the best gift was one from my daughter when she was very small.

One Christmas morning, my daughter Mary was "busy" in her room and did not want to be disturbed. Finally, she came out with a sad face and told me she did not have any money to buy me a gift, so she took her crayons and made me a Christmas card that simply stated, "I love you Dad." That was the greatest gift I've ever received.

Mary McDonald

Bluffton

It was just after World War II. I was 8 years old and like every other little girl of that time, I desperately wanted a Sparkle Plenty doll for Christmas! Dick Tracy was one of the most popular comic strips, and Gravel Gertie and B.O. Plenty were two characters in the strip who had married and produced a baby girl called "Sparkle." Sparkle Plenty had long blond hair and an angelic face. Unbeknownst to me, my father's sister, Aunt Mae, had searched every major department store in New York City and finally found one. On Christmas morning I was thrilled to see my dream come true. I have no idea what happened to her, but Sparkle Plenty will forever be special in my Christmas memories book.

Lisa Clancy

Beaufort

While I have been blessed to receive many wonderful gifts throughout the years, one in particular stands out because of the memories surrounding it. It was Christmas 2000 and my husband, two young sons and I set off to visit our family on Long Island, N.Y. Amid lost luggage and other snowy moments for which we were unprepared, we looked forward to the rest of our trip. From the first day there my dad kept asking (as he does every year), "What do you want for Christmas?" "I don't know. I'll think about it," was my reply.

As part of our visit home, we traveled to New York City to see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. I remembered seeing it with my grandmother as a child and hoped to begin a new tradition with my two young sons and their grandparents. It was as magical as I had imagined.

Later in the day we stopped at Macy's in Herald Square. Everything was sparkling with the holiday spirit. As we neared the escalator, I spotted something that caught my eye. It was a Lennox glass collectable ornament. It had a beautiful 3-D cityscape complete with the Twin towers, Empire State building and Santa flying over the Big Apple. It had the year 2000 etched on the front. It was beautiful.

Dad saw my delight and said, "Do you want it?" I wanted to say yes, but then I saw the price tag. "Nah ... It's really neat, but way too expensive," I told my dad. "It's not something I need. It would just be a fun memory." I reminded him that we had taken plenty of pictures that day. We went on our way.

Christmas morning came a few days later. As the gifts were passed around, I was given a special box to open. To my total surprise my dad had figured out a way to purchase that special ornament. It deeply touched my heart. While I treasured it then for the meaning that it had to me personally, it has even more significance now as Christmas 2000 was the last year that the Twin Towers stood soaring over the New York skyline.

I savor the memories that my family and I shared that year and feel gratitude for the thoughtful gift given to me by my dad. The following year on Sept. 11 when tragedy struck our country, I climbed into the attic to get out my special Christmas globe ornament. It has been on display ever since. Most people don't notice it, but I know it is there. And when I see it, it evokes many emotions. I am grateful for my dad's very personal and thoughtful gift, humbled by those who lost their lives and loves on Sept. 11, and moved by the truth that the first Christmas was all about a gift from a loving father, too.

Gail Matthews

Bluffton

Throughout the years there have been many memorable presents, but the one that stands out most for me wasn't tied with a red ribbon.

I was in the hospital in December 2000 for an exploratory operation on my lungs. The result was lung cancer, though I never smoked. Each day for the 17 days in the hospital, I would be wheeled to radiology for an X-ray. The attendee and I would sing Christmas songs through the corridors, and I was thrilled my lungs still worked. But the greatest gift of all was to be able to go home and have our family come for Christmas with a complete Christmas dinner and six "grandadorables." It is a Christmas I will never forget -- and living to see it was the best present ever.

Patricia Hoeflich

Bluffton

Several years ago at holiday time, my oldest son, Tim, was going through a very unhappy divorce. Since we lived in New York and he resided in Dayton, Ohio, it was very hard to comfort him, except by phone -- not exactly the ideal situation.

The holidays have always been extra special at our house because Christmas is also my birthday. But this year we were kind of worried about Tim, especially me. As the day approached I became more and more upset, but tried not to ruin the day for the rest of the family. On Christmas morning we all rose early and began to distribute our gifts to each other. The doorbell rang and my youngest daughter -- young enough to still wish for a pony at her front door -- leapt to answer it. But she howled "Oh my God," and I ran to see an even better gift.

My son Tim was standing in the doorway. My husband flew him home to surprise me. He was able to join us all for dinner, and then my husband had a limo pick him up and drive him back to Dayton so he would not miss work. What a wonderful gift, from a special husband.

Bill Capshaw

Bluffton

The best gift of all time was pretty easy to remember for myself and my wife. December 25, 1973, was the birth of our third child, William Dean Capshaw II. We had Christmas with the other two children that morning and then we were off to the hospital in the afternoon.

It was simply the best gift ever!

Carol Wetherell

Bluffton

In the mid 1940s my two brothers and I lived in an orphanage on Long Island, N.Y. All the clothes we had were donated by the community, so as a young girl I never had anything new -- no clothes or toys. On Christmas of 1946 I was 8. Beneath the Christmas tree was a gift-wrapped package with my name. I opened it and beheld the most beautiful pair of brand new, never worn black and orange ice skating socks (today they would be deemed ugly). I have had a wonderful life with many beautiful gifts but none gives me the wonderful feeling I get when I think of those socks.

Judith Hillis

Hilton Head Island

My family had recently moved to the suburbs after living in an apartment in the city. Because of that we had never had a dog, which is something my little sister and I wanted very much. As Christmas approached this was No. 1 on our wish list.

Christmas morning was very exciting as usual. As I recall, we each received large, life-size dolls and, of course, the matching fancy dresses sent from our great aunt in upstate New York which were mailed to us each year. There was no puppy. I'm sure my sister and I said nothing about it although I imagine my parents could sense our disappointment. We played with our new toys throughout the afternoon not really noticing that our Dad had been gone for quite some time.

Late in the day he returned holding an adorable black puppy. To this day I can still remember our excitement and happiness. We never questioned how this came about, but our mother explained it to us sometime later.

Dad had taken the Philadelphia phone book and started calling pet shops one by one. Finally someone who had come in to feed the pets on Christmas day answered the phone. Did they have any puppies and would they be willing to wait until my Dad could get there? It was a 45-minute drive to the city. They agreed to wait.

We named our new puppy Crissy in honor of Christmas day, and she was a cherished member of the family throughout our childhood and teenage years.

To this day I have tender feelings for the dad who would go to these lengths to make his two little girls happy on Christmas day.

Colleen Callahan

Hilton Head Island

On Dec. 11, 1981, I received the very best gift of all.We had to pick it up. We got up really early after very little sleep. We stopped at the grocery for few very needed supplies, then headed to an office park in Atlanta. As we rounded the corner, hearts beating rapidly, our eyes beheld the greatest gift of all, a tiny newborn child. Red hair, blue eyes, rosebud lips with what I swear was a little smile; we were enthralled. We loved her from that moment onward, her father, her brother and me. We named our adopted baby girl Whitney Anne Callahan. We thank God for every minute with her. We lost her June 3 of this year. Christmas will never be the same without her. I prepare for the arrival of her daughter -- my granddaughter, Isabella, will now be living with me -- and the rest of our lives together. Say a prayer.

June Eggert

Hilton Head Island

I can't remember ever longing more deeply for any gift from Santa Claus than I did for a dollhouse -- a big dollhouse, a large enough dollhouse so that I could sit down next to it and move around the furniture and become the mother who directed all the daily activities of a real home. However, such a gift from Santa Claus would have meant an expense for my parents that was not justifiable during the deep Depression of the '30s.

At the same time, unbeknownst to me, my father's brother-in-law, (married to my Aunt Jean) who had no children, designed and built an exceptionally large-sized dollhouse, two stories high, perhaps with the intention of donating it to a benefit at some future date. He relaxed after work by using his extensive array of tools to build numerous articles just for the pleasure of doing it. In addition, he also built nearly all of the living room furniture, dining room furniture and bedroom furniture to fit into the house. It was his personal pride and joy.

Apparently my uncle Bill must have overheard my deeply felt request to Santa Claus that Christmas, because I couldn't believe my eyes on Christmas morning when I saw that beautiful, large dollhouse standing under our tree! It was a dream come true! Santa Claus was truly a miracle maker for me that year. I can never forget the many hours I spent playing with that wonderful dollhouse over the next few years, rearranging the furniture and imagining the life of the "family" that lived there.

Today that very special Christmas gift is standing in the recreation room of my daughter's home in New Jersey where my 24-year-old granddaughter played with it for many years, as I did ... once upon a time.

Denise LeVesque

Beaufort

The Christmas I remember most was in 1960. I received my first Barbie doll, AM radio (in my favorite color, blue) and a Patty Play Pal doll that stood 3-feet tall. My older sister received her first transistor radio. That Christmas has remained in my mind all my life. All these years I saved my Barbie and gave it to my first-born granddaughter.

Julia Russell

Bluffton

A few years ago while visiting an aunt who was a nun, I was asked, "Would you mind shopping for an Irish coffee mug with shamrocks on it." She drew a picture of one, and I knew exactly what she was talking about. It seemed one of the sisters at St. Mary's had one that she drank her tea from. It had recently been broken so my aunt wanted to surprise her with a new one for Christmas.

Living in Chicago I figured that would be easy. There were fine china stores and Irish import stores all over. Surely I would find not only one but maybe a half dozen. Much to my dismay I discovered it was going to be a bigger job than I had anticipated. It seemed that this particular design of Irish mug was no longer in vogue. I scouted every store I knew of even venturing into the high-end stores along Michigan Avenue. At this point money was of no issue; I was on a mission and had made a promise I would find a mug for her.

A friend told me of an import store that I did not know of, so I figured I might as well try that. Upon entering the store, much to my surprise sitting on a shelf was the mug. I rushed over to examine it but unfortunately this mug had a little chip on the lip of the mug. I asked the clerk, "Do you have others?" She informed me that this was the last of this style. I looked at the mug thinking should I get the mug. It was getting near Christmas and I had already scoured every store in the city of Chicago. The clerk came over and asked,"Is this person you are buying the mug for right-handed?"I explained I don't know the person. She then told me that if this lady were right-handed the chip would not be a problem, as the edge of the mug would not come in contact with her lip while drinking. She showed me how this would indeed be the case. I pondered the alternatives and bought the mug.

The mug was shipped along with the story to my Aunt in time for her to wrap it for Christmas. I don't know if this nun ever drank out of the mug, but it provided much laughter on that Christmas morning when the story was told. This story turned out to be the most unusual Christmas gift as it provided much fun for my aunt and all the other nuns living at St. Mary's convent.

Oh yes, the sister who wanted the Irish mug was right-handed and was able to drink out of the mug with no problem if she wished.

Ginny Feron

Bluffton

My most memorable Christmas happened over a half century ago, when I was 5 years old. That Christmas, Santa placed a little doll under our tree for me. She was beautiful with hair of sheep skin and a wonderful wardrobe which included a christening gown. I took her to Christmas Mass that morning at our little brownstone church, the priest christened her "Mary" -- a name I had chosen for her.

Mary was much loved and eventually her hair was bald in spots. One summer day a couple of years later, I found Mary outside after a rain storm -- her face cracked -- but that didn't matter I still loved her. A few months later she disappeared and I could not find her anywhere.

The next Christmas, after Mary's disappearance my brother and sisters and I opened all our presents, I felt a sense of disappointment -- all the presents were opened and there was no Mary. I had been certain that Santa would bring her back to me at Christmas. Just then, my dad looked up and said, "I think Santa left something for Ginny on the mantle." My happiest Christmas memory: Mary was wrapped in tissue and she had a new head and unblemished sheep skin hair. Mom told me that my Aunt Mary Etta had crocheted her a yellow sweater and hat as well as making Mary a beautiful blue coat, matching hat and pink dress. She was beautiful again.

Mary still lives with me and decorates our Christmas tree every year in her newest outfit.

Bill and Georgeann McDonald

Hilton Head Island

In the early morning hours of Christmas 1964, a beautiful baby girl was born. She was our first child and, to this day, the very best Christmas gift we ever received.

Barbara Vansuetendael

Hilton Head Island

I am sure the young people of today will be amused at this. I was going to "be allowed" to have a two-wheeled bicycle when I was 10 years old. Imagine my surprise, the Christmas that I was 8 years old, when my grandpa got me a red, balloon-tire two-wheeler -- best present ever! Actually, it was in 1941 and metal was being used for the war effort, so the bicycle was a great treat.