Sal Carmosino responding to Joanne Struz's Post.

Dear Joanne,

I thought I had a good memory.  To remember these old great stores in downtown Boston is a treat in itself thanks to you. Going to ' town' as we used to say as youngsters was a thrill esp at Christmas time...with all the flags hanging from the poles in front of the stores, stores buzzing with activity and the crisp winter air reminding us that Christmas is near.

Who can forget the great store windows decorated for Christmas and of course going inside Jordans to see Santa himself.   Mother would leave me in the toy section where I would watch the miles of trains going every which way...thru miniature towns and figures....hoping I could too could have an electric train set..of course..Lionel. It was safe to leave children alone in those days for a few minutes.

The treat of the day was the restaurant in Filene's or better yet, down to the Essex Grill on Washington Street for a pastrami sandwich...which later became the Combat Zone.

However, I experienced a very sad day one time not too long ago, before Jordans closed.  My wife and I went to Jordan's around Christmas time and I asked where I could find the floor with the toy section.  The clerk looked at me with a puzzled glance. She said there is no toy section but there some exhibits in the basement.  I tried to hold my disappointment but had a slim hope that the toy section was just moved to the basement.

When we got there, it consisted of a few shelves of games and other toys of no significance.  I was stunned and deeply disappointed.  No toy section in Jordan Marsh ?? Where do the kids go to see the toys they wish at Christmas?  Shortly after that, Jordan's was engulfed by the infamous Macy's...a NY store to add insult to injury...which made no sense.  Macy's could have purchased Jordan's and left the name as is.  The same happened To Filene's years later.

That experience made me finally realize the the golden days of the Christmas magic our childhood was indeed totally gone.... However we still have those memories in our minds and nothing can take those away from us....ever.  

Thanks Joanne, for allowing us to rekindle those early days when Christmas was special and the best day of the year......

Sal