Christmas in Ft Mitchell

When we moved to 219 Highland from Holman St in Covington, it was in the city of South Fort Mitchell. Later while dad was city clerk SFM merged with the much smaller Fort Mitchell, taking its name. Gertrude Trimpe had previously moved to 115 Highland, where she lived with her mother, sister Emma, and uncle Hank (Henry). Christmas began when the children were taken (by uncles?) to Gertrude's house. I seem to remember walking, but it is not a clear memory. At first dad did not have a car. He took the streetcar that ran along the Dixie Highway to Covington, and then the bus to work. He would bring bags of groceries back with him some evenings. We ate dinner at Gertrude's. Meanwhile mother and dad would put up and decorate the tree, and place gifts around it. I don't remember them being wrapped. One year we (or maybe me) received an American Flyer train. Since our paternal grandfather had been a conductor for the New York Central on the Covington to Cleveland run, it had a strong attraction for us. Grandpa Kuebbing had been the only male I knew until after WWII was over, and the troops came back - Dad from the South Pacific. Bill Trimpe had left for Europe upon turning 18 just after I was born. When a call was made from our house to Gertrude's, all of us trooped down to our house and celebrated Christmas by sharing gifts. Gertrude made good money in the employment business and had a car before dad. I started singing in the Blessed Sacrament choir in either the first or second grade. At that time, I would sing Midnight Mass each year. I can't remember who came along.