Real gifts
By Lynne Bell
Many of us are fortunate enough to have memories of happy Christmases- first, probably as excited children waiting for evidence that Santa visited-and when we learned he came through, we were thrilled. Later, as adults, we may have found ourselves responsible for making Christmas “happen” for families of our own. And even if you're a harried young parent plugging batteries into the season's must-have toy, with visions of January's credit card bills dancing in your head, it's still pretty easy to access and appreciate a childlike appreciation for the excitement surrounding the holidays with little people in your midst.
For many, when that stage of life passes, it's easy to view Christmas through a different lense. Some may see Christmas as a sad shadow of what it once was-especially if they have lost someone dear to them. Others may be dealing with the stress of job loss and the ongoing anxiety that economic uncertainty brings. Still others may be dealing with pain and illness-physical, mental, or emotional-during this time of year. And these circumstances are often exacerbated by the societal expectation that this season is supposed to be-as the song says-”the most wonderful time of the year.”
Although it's tough not to be affected by those daunting-and may I add-entirely unreasonable (read: insane) seasonal expectations, we all know that the material trappings of Christmas are the icing, not the (fruit) cake.
This column is actually supposed to be about Christmas memories, specifically mine. And I have decades of them-from different stages of life, in different geographical locations and sometimes, with different family configurations. Some have been joyful, some have been challenging, and a few (but thankfully, not too many) have been downright tough.
I suspect it's the same for most people.
When I did a quick, incomplete, and entirely unscientific survey of our office, I discovered that the friendly, chatty folks I work with were all pretty reticent regarding talking about their holiday memories. I may have caught them at a busy time, but I suspect their reactions had more to do with the very human tendency to have difficulty putting into words that which is private and precious.
What I can say is that the real gifts that all of my Christmases gave me weren't the ones wrapped under the tree-but the people in my life and the lessons I learned.
And whatever gifts you get this year, I wish the same for you.
Merry Christmas.
It’s Christmastime
By Kelly Running
Once again, Lynne and I have called a truce. Although our column, “Seeing things differently…” we seem to agree more often than not and it takes a fair amount of research to argue against how we feel.
This week we are celebrating Christmas and we thought it might be fun to reminisce about Christmas’ past.
For the longest time, Christmas in my family meant Christmas Eve with my Mom’s family and Christmas day with my Dad’s family. Whether all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins are able to come home from across the country or it was just us with our grandparents that was the way it was (we live the closest to Swift Current which is where both sets of grandparents lived).
Christmas has taken on a change though ever since my sister became a flight attendant, we still celebrate, but often not on Christmas day. Like many people out there, flight attendants work on Christmas day and although you can bid on days off or on certain flight routes, my sister sees her coworkers with little ones at home and opts to work Christmas day so those people can spend that time with their young children.
I love that my sister does this for others and I hope if she and her husband have kids the same courtesy will be given to her, because Christmas on Christmas day is huge to children, they wait all year for the 24th and for Santa coming, and to wake up on the 25th which isn’t quite the same as it is with their loved ones around, it’s a magical time for them. Being an adult though Christmas is still a magical time of year, but we are more understanding that the time for appreciating family and giving doesn’t really depend on the day.
Last year in November, Granny, passed away. Christmastime reminds me of both my grandmothers for different reasons, but Granny had a particular affinity for the holiday. She had countless decorations, very much enjoyed those dancing Santa’s, loved poinsettias as well as all the lights and how beautiful her Christmas tree was. The one dancing Santa she had sang and danced, even turning around to wiggle his butt which she thought was quite funny.
In fact everyone that came to her funeral last year saw the humour. Her funeral was a beautiful service which included huge poinsettias which made it that morning on the bus to Swift Current and that dancing Santa. Following the service as the family was getting ready to leave, my sister tried convincing my little cousin Ella to run up and press the button, she shook her head, so of course Jaclyn runs up and does it herself, something that would have had Granny shaking her head saying, “Oh… Jackie,” with a giant smile on her face. Some people in the crowd smiled, then as Santa turned to shake his booty, the entire church burst out in laughter.
Growing up Christmas Eve was always a wonderful time as well and remains to be. Oma’s house is decked out in Christmas decorations as well. One set-up she does in particular is a Christmas village she sets up each year which is always very intricately done, including a small skating rink for the little residents of the village.
She also has these two ornaments that have withstood numerous grandchildren, they are Mrs Claus and Santa standing separately with their lips puckered for a kiss and Mrs. Claus can be wound up, so she spins around with the song “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus” playing. It was a favourite of all her grandchildren and has been played a ton over the years.
For supper on Christmas Eve we always enjoy a meal of appetizers which includes this delicious sausage I’ve only had at Oma’s house to eat with crackers and cheese, and Oma’s delicious bacon wrapped shrimp hors d’oeuvres. While we enjoy each other’s company we also listen to old country Christmas carols and, I’m going to have to ask her his name, but a CD that includes Dutch Christmas carols by I believe a young boy at the time of recording, although I’m sure he’s not a young boy anymore.
The music is absolutely beautiful, even if I can’t understand the words… I think the extent of Dutch I know is “mooi” which means “nice,” “ik hou van je” which means “I love you,” and “houdoe” which means “take care.” But, when I think of Christmas carols I think of sitting with Oma and Vic and listening to that music on Christmas Eve. I’m not a huge fan of Christmas music in fact, I’m like the Grinch of Christmas music, but I love the ones that Oma plays each year.
So, have a very Merry Christmas and I hope you all get to spend it with your loved ones!
