The Squamidian Report – Dec. 22 / 07
Issue #291
Also in this issue:
The Ontarion
Hi All,
Got my shopping done, early. That’s just not normal for me. Some of my best and most enjoyable shopping in years past was done late in the afternoon of the 24th. Not that shopping can ever be described as enjoyable, but I’m talking relative comparisons. However, the opportunity to shop early was there so I took it. The girls headed into the city to shop (thank goodness I didn’t have to go along). So I headed out to our local stores and was home by noon, all finished. Nothing like Home Depot for good Christmas ideas, eh?
Wrapping the loot is always problematic mostly because I am not very good at it and I don’t actually enjoy doing it. It’s just one of those things that we are expected to do. So I grabbed a pile of newspapers and a roll of packing tape leftover from when we moved 6 years ago and went at it. That packing tape stuff is like a giant scotch tape except that it is stronger and stickier. The only drawback is that it has a tendency to stick back to itself when you cut off a piece and then you have a devil of a time finding the end again. But I prevailed and by mid afternoon all the wrapping that I was going to do was done. Finished. Over with. So let Christmas come because I’m ready for it.
We actually get the time between Christmas and New Years off work. Friday was our last day before the shutdown. Friday was also our company’s Annual Holiday Dinner. Why can’t they forget the crappy political correctness nonsense and call it the company Christmas Dinner? Oh well, welcome to the 90’s or 00’s or where ever we are now, time wise. And of course Friday was the shortest day of the year, does that mean they are trying to rip us off, party wise? You never know unless you question these things.
*
It would have been nice to make it ‘back home’ for Christmas this year, but that wasn’t in the cards. The kids both have to work and we wouldn’t feel right about leaving them behind. And of course we have worked out our own ‘new’ traditions here over the last 6 years. So I will fire up the old telephone on Christmas Eve and call the Homestead so I can talk to anyone there that wants to be talked to. We haven’t been back for Christmas since we moved, but I’m going to try for next year. Its about time and it would be nice so here’s hoping for Christmas 2008.
As for this Christmas, have a great one everybody. Don’t eat too much and drive safely.
doug
****
****
Hello everyone!
How many of you can remember a special
Christmas Party put on by your parent’s place of employment when you were a
kid. Maybe I’m just thinking back to the childhood days of us baby boomers.
Were we the only generation to have such parties at this time of year or were
we the first? I only know that when my dad worked at Burns Meats in the 50’s
and 60’s they put on a Christmas party for the kids of all their employees at
the Fox Theatre in downtown Kitchener. We would all gather at the Fox on a
Saturday morning a week or so before Christmas. They would show cartoons for
about an hour and then we’d all sing Christmas carols as the words of each tune
were shown up on the theatre screen. During all this time they’d interrupt the
program every 15 minutes to give an update on the location of Santa and his
sleigh full of gifts as it made it’s way to the Fox from The North Pole for
this special occasion. Finally all would go dark in the theatre and the kids
would fall totally silent as the sound of reindeer hooves would clatter
throughout the building. They sounded as if they were landing right on the
stage in front of us but without the lights on we could only listen. After the
hoof clatter stopped, there was a moment of silence once more…………………suddenly
the sound of HO HO HO could be heard and the lights at the foot of the stage
began to brighten up. Out from behind the massive red curtain hanging from the
ceiling came SANTA CLAUSE with a huge bag stuffed with beautifully wrapped
gifts. The kids cheered and clapped so loud it sounded like thunder. When they
finally settled down the curtains were pulled aside and there was a spectacular
red and gold throne for Santa to sit on. There was also a Christmas tree that
stood about 20 feet tall with loads more packages all around. We had already
been there about two hours by this time but none of the kids seemed ready go
home. We all knew that in order to receive our gift from Santa we would have to
be good and listen quietly for our name to be called. When it was called, each
child would make his or her way to the stage where they were allowed to sit on
Santa’s knee and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Then we were given a
stocking filled with candy as well as a nicely wrapped present from under the
tree. Man this was cool to say the least! I know that it really made me feel
special to be meeting Santa a week earlier than any other kid I knew, not to
mention getting a Christmas present early as well. The effort that the
employees of Burns Meats put into that day each year was really special. I’ll
never forget those Fox theatre Christmas parties and I guess I can say it now
after all these years…… I even knew that the knee I was sitting on belonged to
my dad AKA Burns Meats Santa Clause. THANKS DAD! Thanks for the memories!
*
Gotta go for this week but before I do, I’d
like to wish each and every Squamidian member a “VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & A
HAPPY NEW YEAR”!
Thanks for tuning in and I look forward to
talking to you all again next time in The Ontarion Report!
Bye for now… Greg.
PS: Something To Think About>
“Yes Greg, there is a Santa Clause!”
****
The Family Site:
http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b/
The Squamidian Site:
The Biking And Stuff Site:
Have a good one..
the
doug
The Fine Print!
The articles in these issues are the sole property of the persons writing them and should be respected as such.