As Christmas draws near my thoughts wander to Christmas's past and those people who made the day so very special. The years pass quickly and many of those people are gone now, though they are still with us in our memories and hearts. We still do special things that keep them near to us on Christmas day. When we decorate the tree this week (yes, I still have not put up the tree!) there will be one special decoration placed on the tree. It is the one decoration I still have that hung on my grandmother's tree when I was child. It's old and tarnished but still has a spot and carries the memories of many holidays at my grandmother's home where brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and great-aunts and great-uncles would gather for Christmas dinner. It was a small house and not a room would be empty. In the kitchen my aunts would try to out-do each other singing Christmas carols. My uncles and older cousins would be spread through the house playing cards, and my other cousins and I would be playing one of the games we had received for Christmas. It was a Christmas filled with laughter and togetherness - the best gift and one I will always be thankful for.
Over the years we have our own family and grow our own unique traditions. At our house Christmas eve is the special night. I cook the big meal and everyone comes to dinner. When the kids ask what I would like for Christmas it is the same answer - I want you all here for Christmas eve! Christmas day is left open for each to attend Christmas with their other families. As the years pass I look forward to the gift that can't be found in stores. The gift of having the people who you care about near to you at the holiday.
This year will be a different Christmas for our family. My mother who is 80-years-old recently suffered a severe heart attack and is recovering from surgery. It will likely require her to still be in hospital over the holiday but we may just pack up the food and spend the day quietly visiting her there. We are thankful she is with us.
The events of the past few weeks have really been a series of what I think of as my Christmas gifts. I am thankful my mother had a Lifeline - pushing that button got her the immediate help she needed. I am grateful for Phyllis Higgins who lives in my mother's building. She took the call from Lifeline and was able to unlock the door for the ambulance crew who took my mom to Moosomin Hospital where she received speedy and expert care. The many people who coordinated her transfer from Moosomin to Wapella where she met STARS and was taken to the General Hospital - I can't ever thank them enough. To the staff at the General Hospital - what can I say - they are amazing. I am blessed to have a supportive staff at work who carried on and got the job done! Relieving me of any extra worry. You guys are the best! And of course there was Denise Anderson who took Jesse in and made sure he was taken to school and picked up - a gift of kindness that will always be appreciated.
I do have to tell you about my auntie Barb. She is an angel, always has been actually. One call to her home in Regina and she was waiting at the hospital to greet us. My auntie Barb has always been there for me. She is always there to lend a helping hand, and keeps things from falling off track. Hugs, fresh-made beds and her wonderful from-scratch cookies soothed us through the difficult time.
I was with my auntie Barb at a family funeral this past Monday. With her she had brought a Christmas present for me. We retrieved the box from her car and walked to my vehicle each with an arm comfortably around the other. I hugged her and said "see you soon". The box contained a huge assortment of Christmas baking (I have it hidden in the closet so the kids don't eat it all at once)! I love the baking, but the real gift is auntie Barb herself. I am very fortunate to have her in my life.
The people in our lives are special gifts. They come to us unexpectedly and stay with us forever.
So forget the shopping, it's really insignificant to the gifts we receive all year that cannot be bought in stores. On behalf of the staff at the Observer and myself - We wish you a very Merry Christmas with many blessings.
