By Carmen Hendrick
Posted Dec. 24, 2012

Dear Santa,

This year all I want for Christmas is for you to take me back in time so I can once again experience the thrill of the sights, sounds, gaiety, and hustle and bustle of downtown Quincy as it was in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

I don’t need any money, I just need for you to re-wind time so I can run into the candy stores to buy some holiday treats or Howard Johnson’s for some baked macaroni and cheese, perhaps during our lunch breaks after working our part-time jobs in the Square. Then walk through Jason’s Music Store to pick up our favorite 45 of the week.  Maybe Elvis or the Everly Brothers. Or, walk through Sheridan’s wishing to be able to afford everything nice, and have a moment to stop and drop a dime in a Salvation Army bucket.

I’d also like to go to the original Dunkin’ Donuts after work or Richard’s Drive-in and torment the carhops. That was for those who had a car, otherwise we met at the bus stop on the corner of Maple and Washington Street. Many first crushes and romances were started in some of these meeting places.

And, yes, we would pick out our favorite suit or coat at Cumming’s and Bell Shops, and perhaps a favorite sweater at Lerner Shops. Often using the lay-a-way plan to be able to afford our new outfits. Oh, and we always had to seek out the nylon stockings with the seam up the back to finish off our outfits.

We wobbled our way around in those high heel pumps. We would try to find outfits like Justine and Bob on American Bandstand and go to the Surf Ballroom.

Please, Santa, if only for a moment, it would be fun to return to the afternoon I met my girlfriends, where else but at Woolworth’s for their strawberry short cake and maybe to get our pictures taken in its photo booth. At the time, we barely had enough money to go to the lunch counter at Kresge’s along with buying our Christmas wrapping paper.

It would be nice, too, if before Christmas Day, instead of standing outside to meet someone, I could walk into Remick’s, climb their stairs as the scent of the perfumes on the street floor fade away, have one more chance to look down at the breathtaking view below. The twinkling white lights, wrapped around shimmering garland, hanging in perfect loops from the tin ceiling and the decorated Christmas trees at every counter were more beautiful than anything I’d ever seen before or since. You were there, Santa. Do you remember that sight? I enjoyed watching the rush of people juggling their bundles on Hancock Street and hearing the Christmas music from all the stores.

I don’t want to appear greedy, but most of all, I’d love to relive the evening I met up with my steady boyfriend after work and looked at ‘friendship rings’ at Kay Jewelers and later maybe a diamond.

We bought toys and gifts for our family, nieces and nephews. Perhaps Evening in Paris for Mom and Old Spice for Dad. And maybe a plaid shirt for Uncle Joe. Even though it was cold and snowy, we ended our evening somewhere having hot chocolate or a vanilla coke or maybe a movie at the Strand.

If you can pull any of this off, I promise I won’t leave the past without bringing home a couple of the famous almond macaroon cookies baked on-site at Gilchrist’s. Further, while I’m back in time, I swear to you that when I drop a coin into the slot to release the latch holding the shopping bags at the entrances to most of the stores, I’ll be nice and not naughty. As tempting as it still may be, this time around I’ll make sure my sticky fingers take only one.

Work your magic, Santa, because although I know I can go to downtown Boston, I’d rather take my grandchildren to the birthplace of two Presidents and enjoy the annual Christmas Parade and enjoy a pizza at the Leaning Tower. And, yes, Santa, remember those late nights at Eddie’s Diner? We did all that and still got home on time and managed it without cell phones.

Realistically, if I’m asking too much, perhaps the next time I see you at a mall, you could give me a wink and a nod just to confirm that you got my letter and that you, too, believe it was a wonderful life!

Merry Christmas and thank you.