The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Christmases come and go, but one that stands out in my memory personified the gift of loving and sharing. It did not involve a tangible, touchable gift but instead, thoughtful loving promises which were fulfilled during the coming year.

Our first gift was for January 2009, when we were invited to be guests of our daughter, Terry, and our son Mark and his wife, Carol, for an Imax double feature, followed by lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory.

At the end of January 2009, Ken and I were invited for a 'sleep-over' at Mark and Carol's (they still lived on Vancouver Island at that time).  





Mark, a photographer and memory-enthusiast, was anxious to complete a video he was making of our journey through life.  

Ken and I arrived with armloads of family albums, photos, slides, and movies, which Mark used to compile a two-dvd set chronicling our married life. Carol kept us well fortified with delicious meals and lots of wine as we shared so many memories.  Terry ensured that our dog Miller was well cared-for in our absence.

In February 2009, Carol and Terry hosted a valentine-themed luncheon 

for myself and my group of 'scrabble ladies'. 

In March 2009 we enjoyed an evening of board games at our home, refreshments provided by Carol, Mark and Terry.

In April 2009, during our annual mini-vacation at Yellowpoint Lodge, we were joined for lunch by Carol, Mark and Terry.

In May 2009 Carol and Terry hosted a spring scrabble luncheon in Mark and Carol's beautiful yard.  .

While we feasted and chatted, Mark and Ken had a walking tour of Sidney and 'bonded' over some fish and chips.

In July 2009, after a game of mini-golf, we enjoyed a picnic atop Mt. Tolmie (Ken's old stomping ground) with Terry, Mark, Carol, and grand-daughters/spouses.

In September the plan was a stay at a lovely condo on Mt. Washington, to include lots of long walks and family time.

What wonderful, thoughtful and inspired gifts were spread out for us over that year - proving that time together means more than all the glitter and glam thrust upon us during Christmas season.

Away in a Manger

Many families have favourite Christmas traditions.  Our family became obsessed with home entertainment in the form of each person present doing his or her ‘party piece’.

Our very precocious three-year old granddaughter decided she was going to sing ‘Away in a Manger’ with the appropriate ‘rocking the baby’ motion.  Her grandfather was not convinced she was capable of remembering all the words, so he volunteered to perform a duet with her.

For weeks he coached her and felt that by Christmas he could trust her to perform with his support.

The turkey had been consumed and all were gathered around the fireplace.  Several family members had recited, sung or played a musical instrument and now the big moment arrived for the youngest performer.

She looked so angelic, dressed all in white, with her proud, but somewhat anxious grandfather by her side.  A hush fell over the gathering as Grandma‘s hands, poised over the piano keys, began to accompany the little singer.

The performance was a great success, and as we wiped a tear of emotion from our eyes and then clapped in unison, that little imp turned to her grandfather and said,

“Now Grandpa, do you think you can do it by yourself next year?”

Precious Memories

My mind often travels back to when our granddaughters were young.

Sometimes my husband and I took them for a stroll to the University grounds.  On the way we would encounter throngs of grasshoppers noisily foraging through the undergrowth and long grass.  Grandpa even wrote a story about them - 'A Grasshopper's Tale'. Often we stopped to feed the ducks.

During winter visits, we had such fun at the Christmas Store.  It was really magical.  I told them they could each pick out an ornament.  After much discussion they each selected one of those delightful 'snow falling' ornaments (snow globes?).

Then there were the years we made and decorated Christmas cookies.  Once the dough was rolled out they stood on chairs and did the cutting out with their tiny hands.

I mixed egg yolks with a drop of water and separated the mixture into small containers, added food colouring, provided paint brushes. 

Soon they were off in their own little world of imagination and creativity.

One year we were ambitious enough to tackle making a gingerbread house.  I will always remember that particular Christmas as our gingerbread roof was a bit 'challenged', so we ended up supporting it with an empty roll of toilet paper.  The finished product was a joy to behold, but we knew the secret that lurked underneath.

Another Christmas memory I have is of Heather and Lindsay cosily ensconced in front of a roaring fire.  Lindsay was busily knitting some item while Heather read out loud to her.  Being twins, they were quite content, like a couple of old ladies sitting by the fire enjoying its warmth and just being with each other.

As the girls grew to be teenagers, I often took them shopping at Mayfair Mall for their Christmas presents. We wandered from store to store "Below the Belt" "Above the Belt" - you name it!  I sat patiently listening to loud rap music while they paraded in front of me in various outfits.  Once they made their decisions, I paid for the goods and we headed for Swiss Chalet for lunch.  When we returned home, there was always a fashion show staged for Grandpa.

Was 1996 the year of the crippling snow storm that hit Victoria?  For four days after Christmas we were marooned in our son's home in North Saanich.  It was a magical time.  We had plenty of food, roaring fires while the snow fell relentlessly. We listened to radio reports of people unable to get to work or trapped in their homes needing milk, eggs or bread. Neighbors reported in to each other via the radio, each one trying to help the other.  We played lots of board games, told stories, laughed and probably drank some wine.  Little did we imagine that many years later our son and daughter-in-law, as well as our three granddaughters and great grand children would all be living in Prince George where they experience that type of winter wonderland every Christmas!

Oh what precious memories to have.  I am forever grateful for them, and I know, too, that my granddaughters appreciate and treasure those special times.

Cookie Decorating

Back in 1960 five nine year old girls decided to form a little 'do gooder' club which they called 'The Saanich Secret Helpers Society'.  They held meetings and discussed how they to raise money to help people who were less fortunate.  They collected bottles, raked leaves, sold raffle tickets (the prize was a jigsaw puzzle). 

They held a bake sale outside our local grocery store - we mothers rising to the occasion with our ovens going full blast.  I recall them putting on some kind of play for the children at Queen Alexandra Solarium, they also wrote stories which they produced in multiple copies with the use of a gestetner machine (anyone remember those?).  By the time Christmas arrived, they were able to present a needy family with a turkey and box of Japanese oranges.

In time these little girls grew up and some moved away from Victoria for a time, but the seed of wanting to be together at Christmas, and to do good to others, remained.  In the early 1970's, a more 'mature' group began meeting each Christmas to decorate cookies, many of which were given away to various organizations and families. 

  

Each December since then, pretty much the same group, with a few additions, gather together at our home for the annual cookie-decorating party.  My daughter Terry makes the cookie dough.  She and I roll and cut out the cookies, ready for the decorators' arrival.

We supply the participants, now in their 60's, with coloured egg yolk and paint brushes, as well as 

wine and goodies to nibble on when the cookies are all baked.

The 'girls' drink wine and chat and turn out the most fabulous creations - it's almost a shame to eat these cookies.

This year, the cookies will be given to a group of especially needy and genuinely hungry students who rarely have a taste of home-made goodies.

This group of lovely ladies also fills gift bags for homeless women.  They each bring an assortment of items such as scarves, socks, toiletries, gift certificates for places like Tim Horton's, and this year something beautiful and more personal - handmade earrings.

Miller loves give the filled bags a final inspection.

I make sure our house is fully decorated, the heat is turned up (!), the fireplace is glowing and some gentle Christmas music is playing in the background.  

 It is such a pleasant experience to be part of this annual gathering, the seed for which was planted so many years ago by those little nine year old girls.