Remembering Christmas Past

Our Family Gathering Christmas 2007

Although steeped in tradition and celebrated for 2000 years, Christmas has evolved along with our Western Culture.

In days gone by, it was primarily a Religious Holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. In pre-Christian times, ancient societies celebrated the Winter Solstice marking the end of the darkest days of winter and welcoming the New Year. Today there is more emphasis on Santa Claus, gift giving and feasting. The common denominator is that we gather together with our friends and family to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate life.

Many of us still love the traditional Christmas Carols. Nothing can convey the solemnity and mystery of the Nativity as “Silent Night“ Some songs, however, have become outdated. Does anyone know what a “Figgy Pudding” is? It must be some sort of dessert made with figs, but no one I know has ever made a figgy pudding, much less eaten one.

And then there is the famous line, “Don we now our gay apparel” which today has totally different connotations, and certainly not what the composer originally intended to say!

I have many happy memories of past Christmases and would like to share some of them with you.

As a child, Christmas always began with the annual trip to Hudson‘s Department Store in Detroit. I remember standing in line for hours, waiting to see Santa’s Village and sit on the knee of Santa himself. The village consisted of miniature robotic Elves posed in various settings with lots of mini lights and fake snow. It was hot and crowded, but we forgot about all those discomforts when we walked through that wondrous fairyland, our eyes wide with amazement.

In the weeks leading up to the big day, we sometimes participated in Christmas pageants at church and the Teutonia Club. This is the German Club in Windsor Ontario. Everyone was dressed in their finery as songs were sung, German verses were recited and St. Nick arrived. It was a production line as the children were brought up on stage, starting with the youngest. I remember the noise and chaos in the large hall as we waited our turn. Now, years later, I appreciate all the work and expense that was involved.

Because we didn’t have a fireplace, I was concerned about poor Santa. I was worried that he would climb down the chimney and end up in the furnace. My mother reassured me that he had a special key to the front door. Only then could I sleep in peaceful slumber. Santa was safe.

We upheld the traditions of our forefathers in Europe. Christmas Eve was a day of fasting so we ate fish instead of meat. My dad was the chief cook that day as he made the Fish Paprikash. It was a delicious fish soup made with fresh Carp ,onions, tomato juice and wine. My maternal grandmother was in charge of making the homemade noodles. She kneaded the dough and then rolled it out on a board. It was then cut into strips about 3” or 8 cm. wide. The strips were then lightly floured to prevent sticking and stacked one on top of the other. I still remember her skilful cutting, as she quickly sliced through the strips with a sharp knife, miraculously avoiding her fingertips.

We gathered around the table, said a prayer and enjoyed the soup. Fresh cut onions and roe (fish eggs) were sometimes added to the bowl and were considered a delicacy. It was the poor man’s version of caviar but we didn’t mind. After the soup, we each got a portion of the boiled fish and some potatoes. Carp is full of tiny bones and it required some skill and patience to avoid them. Not everyone appreciated this meal and my mother usually cooked some other seafood such as shrimp and scallops to tempt their discriminating palates.

We were well sated as we gathered in the living room. The tree was aglow with lights and ornaments. Our favourites were the little red bell and the birds that attached to the branch with a clip.

We were all eager to open our gifts (it was our custom to open gifts on Christmas Eve), but first we had to sing three Christmas Carols for our parents and grandparents. We tried to contain our excitement but soon tore off the wrappings of each gift with greedy delight. The entire living room was knee deep in wrapping paper in a matter of minutes.

Cookies and chocolates were offered but we were too full to eat.

Soon 12 am approached and we drove to church for Midnight Mass. St. Michael’s Church was resplendent in it’s holiday décor. Two huge white poinsettias flanked the altar and a pair of long slim trees covered in lights stood on each side. To the right was a large nativity scene; a manger with all the figurines nestled in straw and baby Jesus in the center. We celebrated Mass, the Choir sang our praise to the heavens and our Christmas was complete.

The next day as other families were just getting up for Christmas morning, we lingered in our pj’s and played with our new toys.

Christmas Dinner was always a turkey with all the trimmings at my maternal Grandparents’ house. The entire family gathered there, including aunts, uncles and cousins. Since the dining room was a bit small, the children ate in the TV room. After the meaI, the men stayed at the table and played cards. Cigarettes were not yet considered unhealthy and soon big clouds of smoke filled the room as they played for kernels of corn. 10 kernels of corn = 1 cent. It wasn’t exactly high stakes poker, but the games remained lively as they called out their trump cards and pounded them on the table. Meanwhile, the women sat in the living room and chatted about this and that. The children were left up to their own devices to find amusement. We sometimes played board games such as Monopoly and Parcheesi.

We also paid a visit to our Paternal Grandparents. My Oma offered us her crescent cookies filled with plum jam and sprinkled with fruit sugar. Her specialty was a Spritz cookie pronounced “Gex” ( I’m not sure of the correct spelling). Opa always had stories to share and the discussions that followed gave everyone an opportunity to contribute their own perspectives.

I was in Fort Lauderdale for Christmas 1968. It was very strange to see the colored lights strung on palm trees and Santa figures perched on green lawns. My friend and her grandparents were very gracious, but I missed my family terribly.

On Christmas Eve 1972 my Uncle Adam passed away suddenly. He had been suffering from stomach cancer and the chemo treatments proved too much for his heart. We were all devastated. My grandparents never put up a tree after that year. Each Christmas was a painful reminder of this tragedy, but life goes on as it must.

As everything changes. so did our Christmases. We got married and merged our traditions with those of our spouses and their families. As we raised our own families, we formed new traditions while honouring the old.

One of the most memorable Christmases was at my parent’s home in the mid-1980’s. My siblings, cousins and their families were all there. My dad slipped out quietly and soon we heard a knock at the door and a lot of Ho-Ho-Ho’s. It was Santa Claus come to deliver his gifts! The kids were all jumping for joy as they gathered around Santa. If they suspected my dad, no one said anything to ruin the magic. It was one of the best Christmases we ever had and one of my dad’s finest moments.

Now as our lives continue, the next generation is gathering for the Holidays. It is our turn to create memories for our kids and grandkids. Many things have changed, but many things remain the same. The Spirit of Christmas is alive and well in the love we share with family and friends. Love is the eternal bond that brings us all together. Love has always been there since that very First Noel.

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Adventures in Plumbing

We take the modern conveniences of indoor plumbing for granted. In fact, next to electricity, we scarcely give it a thought. Unless we are on a rugged camping trip, we expect hot and cold water, drains that drain and a toilet that flushes whenever we need it.

We have all experienced that foolish feeling when trying to flick on the lights, even though we are aware that there is a power outage. It’s just automatic. We don’t care why it works or how it works or where it came from. We just use it. Period.

This morning, the strangest thing happened as I was getting ready for work. The lid from a small plastic bottle of lotion flew out of my hands and landed right in the drain of my bathroom sink. It landed top side up, just to make it more interesting. It was a perfect fit. It completely plugged the sink. I stared at it, dumbfounded. What are the odds?

I had visions of my bathroom sink being an attraction at the carnival and me shouting: “Get the cap into the drain; win a stuffed animal; 3 tries for $1” I don’t think anyone could do it even if they tried. But here was the lid, finding its’ way into the drain without any help. There must have been some gremlins at work, or that cap had serious suicidal tendencies.

I brushed my teeth in the guest bathroom, while thinking of ways to dislodge the cap. I thought about it all day. I talked about it to co-workers and patients. I was obsessed. That cap became Moby Dick to my Captain Ahab.

First I tried wedging two slim steak knives on either side and lifting up, but the knives kept slipping. Then I remembered “Red Green” and his Duct Tape. I attached tape to the lid and pulled up. No luck. It did not have a large enough surface area to adhere properly.

Then my vacuum cleaner was brought out. Let it be known that my vacuum and I have a hide and seek policy. It hides and I try not to seek it. (I hate vacuuming). But this was an emergency. I placed the hose above the cap and turned on the motor. It sucked and strained. I changed attachments and tried again. The cap rose slightly but sank back down as soon as I removed the hose. The toilet plunger had the same result.

I tried using a corkscrew, but the cap was made of hard plastic and not as easily penetrated as a wine cork.

Next came a manual drill, a relic from my dad’s wood shop. I held it upright, turning the knob as the bit rotated into the cap. But the cap had other plans. It turned with the bit and refused to cooperate. I could feel the frustration building.

Calling a plumber was always an option, but it was the weekend and the cost was a deterrent. That and the fact that I really wanted to do it myself. I wanted, no needed to prove to myself that I can and I shall prevail over that cap.

In the midst of all this bravado, the cap was still embedded in the sink, quietly taunting me, firm, resolute, impenetrable. I imagined smashing it to bits, but there was a possibility of damaging the sink so I resisted.

I felt like Scarlet O’Hara in that scene where she raised her arm up in the air, vowing never to be hungry again. Only in my reality, the foe was not the Union Army. It was a small white plastic cap, mocking me in it’s refusal to budge. But I was determined.  I would not be defeated! I would not give up!

It was time to bring out the big guns: glue gun that is. I melted some glue onto a circular piece of wood ½” in diameter and attached it to the cap. I burned my fingertips on the hot glue and silken strands cascaded all over the sink like spider’s webs. I waited for the glue to harden, eyes gleaming, counting the minutes in breathless anticipation. My victory was near. Or so I thought. The elusive lid must have been wet or oily since the glue failed to stick. Drat!

The fates move in mysterious ways. I was in the process of decorating our Lab-X Ray department for Christmas and while searching for supplies on my workbench, my eyes fell upon an old soldering gun. I used that tool to melt holes into plastic pots for additional air circulation for growing orchids. In a flash of inspiration, I decided to melt a hole into that cap and then use a crochet hook to pull it up.

A little voice inside my head said: “I’ll get you my pretty sink; and your little cap too!” I wondered when I turned into the Wicked Witch of the West but no matter. There was a battle to be waged!

I heated up the tool and easily melted a hole into the cap. Then with my crochet hooks spread out like surgeon’s tools, I selected the proper size. Into the opening it went and up popped the cap. The entire process took 5 minutes. Everything is easy when you know how.

Success at last! The drain was free! I danced around the bathroom, cap in hand like Gollum when he found the Ring.

The lessons to be learned from this are as follows:

1.Never give up when you have a goal in mind.

2. Conventional problems can be solved in unconventional ways.

3. Avoid little bottles with plastic caps unless you have extraction tools.

And in conclusion: Duct Tape may be the handyman’s secret weapon, but a middle aged woman with a crochet hook can conquer the world!

In Memory of Zeus

In Memory of Zeus

Last Saturday, we said farewell to a dear friend. Our beloved Doberman, Zeus had to be euthanized.

It started about 2 months ago when we noticed a lump on his hip. It was surgically removed, but proved to be a malignancy. In a relatively short time, more tumors appeared. He grew weaker as the disease progressed. It was very difficult to see him succumb to this deadly disease and even harder to make the decision to end his suffering.

Zeus was true to his breed possessing intelligence, courage, loyalty and gentleness. He was part King Doberman and stood slightly taller than the standard. With his slim physique, sleek coat and long legs, he was sometimes mistaken for a Greyhound.

Zeus was born on April 6, 2002. As a youngster, he exhibited all the routine puppy habits, chewing everything in site. On his first visit to Oma’s, he ate her freshly planted Pansies. He was not the most popular fellow in her books.

In true Doberman fashion, he was aloof with strangers, but to those he considered part of his pack, he never lost that puppy innocence and playfulness. I was proud to be part of his inner circle. When my son Mark was housebound with a knee injury, he and Zeus formed a lifelong bond. To the end of his days, Mark was the most important person in his life. When Mark was away at work, Zeus would throw back his head and howl sorrowfully, as he waited for his master to return.

Zeus was a terrific guard dog. No one dared to venture onto the property once they heard his ferocious bark. Little did they know that he never bit anyone in his life. Apparently, biting was not in his job description. (this endeared him to us even more). Ever on alert, he immediately sprang into action if we asked “who’s there?” He would scan the entire yard, looking for trespassers with an intensity only a Doberman could create.

We never mastered the art of walking him with a leash. It always appeared that he was walking us, and our shoulders were practically getting dislocated. Even with a choke chain, he seldom lessened his vigorous tugs.

When Mark was in Europe, I had the privledge of keeping Zeus for 6 weeks. We went for daily hikes on the nature trails. Since there was often no one else around, I let him run off leash to his heart’s content. He ran like a gazelle, up and down the trails, delirious with happiness. Every once in a while he would bound off into the underbrush. There would be some loud barks, a few yelps and soon after, he would reappear on the path, his muzzle full of sharp porcupine quills. He always looked startled and slightly embarrassed, like the cat who ate the canary. He avoided eye contact with me as if he admitted his guilt.

Even though he had a canine’s superior sense of smell, Zeus often clashed with Skunks. It happened once, late at night as Mark and family were ready to drive back home to Edmonton. Picture 3 of us in the bathroom, with an 85 lb Dobie in the tub, doused with tomato juice, jumping up and down, shower curtain tearing, tomato juice everywhere except on the dog. My house smelled like a skunk den for a week.

Zeus also had a knack for getting into the garbage, especially when his people were gone for a few hours. Our patience was tested to the limit, coming home to the mess. On one occasion Zeus hit the jackpot. I had a roast beef defrosting in the sink. Taking advantage of his height, he reached in and easily grabbed the meat. I assumed that he ate the entire thing in a gluttonous frenzy, since I never found that roast. He was sneaky and knew when to seize an opportunity. An entire box of Girl Guide cookies also suffered the same fate.

He loved to do tricks for small treats. I taught him to SIT, STAY, SPEAK, LIE DOWN, ROLL OVER, and SHAKE A PAW. Anything for a treat. He sometimes ran out of the yard and enjoyed the exhilaration of freedom for a few minutes. The only way I could convince him to come back was to hold up a cat as a “treat” The cat was not amused but that trick worked every time. Zeus didn’t mind cats, but cats minded him. He couldn’t resist the chase, but he was such a gentle soul, he would never hurt them.

Ah Zeus. He was our loyal companion, our furry friend and our protector. He was a member of our family and a part of our life. We will never forget him.

　

REST IN PEACE SWEET ZEUS

WE WILL MISS YOU

　

The Case for Christmas Cards

The Case for Christmas Cards

I sent out my Christmas Cards today. In this age of instant messaging there has been a noticeable decline in the more than 100 year old tradition of sending cards to our loved ones.

Many people are questioning the value of this custom. Everyone is stressed to the limit and sending cards is just one more thing to get out of the way. There is also the rising cost of stamps to consider in these harsh economic times.

However, I choose to continue this traditional ritual and I invite all of you to do the same. Let’s not think of it as a duty or obligation, but rather as a way to renew a sense of kinship with our recipients. It’s a simple gesture of reaching out to those who matter to us.

I carefully sort out the cards, matching each one to the receiver. I take the time to admire the art work and design elements of each card. The “Season’s Greetings” and “Happy Holidays” are sent to the non Christians. Devout Christians can expect a Nativity scene or angels and a “Merry Christmas”. The rest of you non-commited folks (and you know who you are) get the Snowmen and Santa’s and Ho Ho Ho’s. In the true spirit of Christmas, no one is left out. Love and joy are universal no matter what your personal beliefs.

The design or the words on the card are not the most important thing. What really counts is that you matter to me. I value your friendship and kinship and want to express that sentiment. I send the cards freely and without expectation. I don’t want someone to rush out and reciprocate just because I sent them a card. I don’t expect that. In the true spirit of giving, one should not keep score or expect anything back.

 The Dalai Lama said “my religion is simple; my religion is kindness”. Kindness and compassion are what set us apart from all living creatures. Let’s be mindful at this special time of year to spread the message of peace and love. (and if you happen to love Walmart, that’s ok too!).

With apologies to David Letterman, here are the

                             Top 10 reasons to send Christmas Cards

1.     You remind your friends and relatives that you are still alive

2.     You get a chance to edit your address book

3.     You spend time on quiet reflection as you focus on each name

4.     You support the Hallmark and other Card companies

5.     You create work for Canada Post

6.     The cards can be used in crafts and the stamps can be collected.

7.     You can give everyone a short summary of the fabulous year you had

8.     You can send greetings and best wishes at your convenience and without paying for long distance.

9.     You carry on a long tradition that began over 100 years ago.

10.  And the best reason to send a card: “You can spread good wishes and guilt in one tidy package.” It’s a mother’s dream come true!

Merry Christmas