Peter – So This is Christmas ….

So this is Christmas! A large part of what makes me who I am is based on my parents…..

…..who loved Christmas. They worked hard to ensure that there were Christmas goodies available for their brood. I remember seeing boxes of chocolates stuffed away in the rafters in September. The whole group of kids pointedly ignored the chocolates, we knew that they were doing their best to ensure that we had a good Christmas.

Family at Christmas

That, Loyal Reader, that is when I learned the true meaning of Christmas. Gifts are wonderful, but to me, it is the spirit behind them that matters. My parents taught me that. I can only reflect on some of the presents I received. 

For example, my dear aunt Pat went ahead and bought me an LP of the soundtrack of the “Battle Of Britain”. This is one of my favourite movies, and frankly I was floored by the fact that she bought it. She had no clue about that, but she went ahead and showed me “love” without even knowing it. 

How about my Mum, who bought me a lovely large plastic model of a De Havilland Mosquito? I have no idea how she knew, but she did. 

I remember early one Christmas morning looking out the front window at Franklin Street. I saw the sun crowning, its light looking like luminous yellow wax running across the horizon. The bare deciduous trees looked like prison bars. The rays of light and colour danced across my vision. Even now, 60 years later, I can see it.

It’s Christmas, the time of Love. Reach out to those less fortunate. We have. 

I will be back in January, with a whiny column about being born just after Christmas. I want to wish a Happy Birthday to my dear late sister Mary, I will post “Birthday” on my birthday this year. 

Loyal Reader, do you love someone? Then tell them every day. 

See you soon. 

=PJM=

A confirmed Cat person, Peter dabbled with being a water boy, a paper boy and an altar boy before finally settling on a career with the Canadian federal government.  Once, in his youth, he ate a Dutch  oven full of mashed potatoes to win a 5 cent bet with his beloved sister Mary’s boyfriend. (Of course he was much younger and a nickel went a lot farther!))

He has retired to palatial “Chez Montreuil”, which he shares with his little buddy CoCo the Fashionable. He is blessed to have the beautiful Betty in his life. He is not only a plastic aircraft modeller, but a proud “rivet counter”. Military aviation and live music are among other interests of his, and he tries to get out to as many shows as he can. He will be here for your enlightenment whenever the stars align. Profile photo courtesy of Pat Blythe, caricature courtesy of Peter Mossman.

---