Holiday Memories: Christmas spirit rang for years at the Garden Alah

I want to share my Christmas memories with the whole world.

My family and I used to live in Hayward, Calif. We were born into a musical family on both sides and we were in music all of our lives.

One day my brother said to me, Sis, I'm going to get a band.

I have one sister and two brothers. So he saw this large building one day in Niles, Calif.

He came to mother, borrowed $50 and rented it for one night. He advertised on radio KEEN for three days.

We opened the doors of the Garden Alah at 8 p.m. on Saturday night. At 11 p.m., the place was standing room only; 1,400 people we had that night. From that night on, every Friday and Saturday night we had our country and western dances. The house was packed every night.

One night a man came to my brother. He said we are opening up Channel 2 in Oakland, Calif. We want your show. So we got one hour on Saturday, C-W music. Every Saturday, we had a guest star on the show.

On Christmas day, we opened the doors for a big ol' Christmas dinner. People came from everywhere to join us. That was the day when the fun of our lives began. The musicians would be there. Everyone got into the act and got on the stage to do their acts.

Grandpa got his cane, high top hat, toe-tapping shoes. He did his act. Even if they couldn't carry a tune, everyone got into the act; singing, dancing, telling jokes, etc.

Oh, we sang and danced. Our children were 4-5 years old, they had their little guitars and fiddles. They got on that stage and played and sang.

My sister, brother's children and my boy were raised on the stage of the Garden Alah.

We had the Garden for 20 years. Then the brothers decided we were all getting too old for music. They sold the Garden Alah.

Shortly after that, my brother Jack had a car accident, my only child had diabetes and had to have both legs amputated. My husband got hurt on the job. He retired. We moved to Carson City. My husband, Charles Morgan, was an artist. He loved Carson.

All of our beautiful times ended at the Garden of Alah. All of our beautiful Christmas dinners and Christmas trees ended.

Then my family began to pass away; Grandpa, then my grandmother, three aunts, uncle and my mother and father.

Then my only little grandson Jody Tucker was drowned in an Idaho river. My son had both legs amputated and he passed away. Then my niece and my husband died of cancer.

My baby brother lives in Tracy and my sister in Kingman, Ariz.

I'm all alone at Christmas. I'll be working at Safeway in the slots. All my family is deceased. I'm all alone. What beautiful memories I have to look back to, to cherish.

So many people have moved here from Hayward and Niles who used to go to our dances. If you should print my story, they are more than welcome to come to Safeway to chat about old times with me.