Memories of my dad at Christmas

My dad, James Noel Tauriello, loved Christmas and decorated like no other because of his love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His unique and amazing way of decorating in the 1980s was so beautiful that I call it "Daddy's Christmas Winter Wonderland."

Christmastime was one of the most special memories that I and my brothers, Jimmy and Frankie, had growing up besides all the other amazing unique things Daddy did for us. Since we grew up in Brooklyn and Staten Island in nice apartments, sadly, Daddy couldn't decorate outside the house but he always decorated his best inside our apartment. Since Daddy loved snow, he decorated by taping cotton balls all over the walls, ceilings, and cabinets, and in the kitchen, living room, and hallways. My grandmother (his mother-in-law) enjoyed coming to help him. I actually remember as a kid kicking those cotton balls on the floor. Yes, he threw them all over the floor too. I really believe that not one person on this earth ever created such an idea of cotton ball decorating. It was truly unique, amazing, and unbelievable all the time and hard work he put into our Lord's Birthday.

On top of the winter wonderland, Daddy had other unique ways of decorating, such as cutting down the biggest Christmas tree from the forest and realizing it wasn't going to make it up the stairs aor fit in our living room. So he cut off the top, which made it look like a square Christmas tree — LOL! But when it was finished with decorations, it was beautiful — all colored Christmas balls and my favorite, the colored Christmas lights, all blinking.

Another of my favorite memories were the three-foot soldiers all around the Christmas tree. He put them there because he loved the 1934 movie "March of the Wooden Soldiers/Babes in Toyland." Also, he hung different-colored glass Christmas balls all over the ceiling with a string and a thumb tack. Thinking about it now, imagine if one fell on our heads — but they never did. He even put colored Christmas lights all around the ceilings and windows. Between Daddy's decorating and the delicious feast he made, we were in Christmas Heaven.

I can only imagine if we had our own house what Daddy would have done on the outside. It would have been just as unique and amazing like he did for my grandmother's house in Staten Island. Daddy put up colored Christmas lights outside every part of the house, with a large lit-up Santa and reindeers on the roof. He made a cross out of wood the size of the house and decorated it with blue lights. He put three-foot candy canes on the grass going all around the house, and Christmas music played outside. He dressed up as Santa, with a real velvet suit and gold buttons, and gave out candy canes to everyone. It was so amazing, crowds of people and cars packed onto the block just to see Daddy as Santa and his unique decorating at Gram's house.

One story my Aunt Roe told me that touched my heart, and which I vaguely remember, was when Daddy was giving out those candy canes. He handed a candy cane to a little girl, but she didn't take it. He realized she couldn't take it because she had no arms. Holding in his tears, he gave the candy cane to her mother. After they left, he had to go inside for a second to compose himself.

Not only did my Dad have such a unique generous, caring, loving heart, but he was also a fun and humorous guy too. It's no wonder I am who I am because of Daddy, my Mom, and, most of all, because of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I thought I'd share one of the most unique and generous things my Dad did that I know of, since it's almost Christmas. Daddy was a self-employed plumber. One of his customers was poor, so Daddy, having a heart, went out and bought a bunch of lobsters for the customer. I know that might sound strange, but for those who really knew Daddy, they would know he only wanted to give the very best.

I have so many good memories of my Dad. When we were young he would take us on vacation to the Poconos. I used to say to myself, I wish I could live here, it's so beautiful. Little did I know that over two decades later I'd be blessed living in the Poconos with my husband and son in a nice little ranch house in Milford almost three years already. In the near future in my Milford home I do plan to decorate just like Daddy did with all those cotton balls for Christmas. But for now, the cotton balls are just on the sliding door, and my decorating is more than I ever did.

I do have a sad memory of my Dad, which was the worst day of my life. My heart broke when Daddy died on March 3, 2001, from a massive heart attack at age 45. It was very hard to cope with the loss of Daddy, but later that year for Christmas I decorated the most and the best I could for him. Nothing comes close to the way that Daddy decorated, but I put the cotton balls on the living room window, Christmas lights around the window, and blinking Christmas lights on the tree. Nothing would ever make us not want to celebrate our Lord's Birthday.

Daddy will always hold a special place in my heart. I'm so thankful to have those special memories. I am truly blessed and proud that he's a part of me and to have him for my father on this earth. He truly loved all his family and friends. He would go out of his way for anyone. Believe it or not, he comes close to what Santa Claus would really be like. He even had stomach like him years later, LOL, but he wasn't perfect, just like all of us aren't. We all have our sins, and it's about recognizing them and repenting.

I'm also heartbroken that my son, James, 8, never got to meet his grandpa. He was born a few years after Daddy died, but I know he would have had such a great time with him and my nephews Jason, 8, and Aiden, 3, too. Daddy was always the life of the party, especially when he sang in his band, The OBG's (Oldies But Goodies).

Although Daddy's not here with us, I'd always thought that his unique "Christmas Winter Wonderland" should have been in the newspaper back then and today I'm blessed and thankful because I gave Daddy the most special Christmas gift this year and that's to show everyone who he truly was inside. He was truly one of a kind.

Merry Christmas Daddy! Love you always, your daughter Jennifer + xoxoxo.