It is always so hard to believe that after all the pre hustle and bustle during the exciting month of December that Christmas Day finally comes and then goes by way too fast, but hopefully always leaves a lasting joy of giving, sharing, love, and fond memories of precious time together with a happy host of family, friends, and new acquaintances.
Now as we head into the New Year 2018 with great anticipation it would be real nice if we can take some the excitement and joy of the past holiday season and combine it with our goals, lifestyles, enthusiasm, and work and play activities for the next 360 plus days.
A week before this joyous event everyone was surely wishing for a white but mild Christmas, and while the snow came in with great gusto on the hallowed eve of Dec. 24th, it was also blown in by a Siberian low that kept us in the deep freeze until long after the New Year’s Eve celebrations were over. With the sparkling wrapping paper, boxes, and miles of ribbons all safely in the recycle bin and the new gifts now long admired or exchanged, the kids will soon be heading back to school and the adults back to work.
There is also no doubt that just about everyone will be trying to balance their credit cards and hoping that 2018 will be good to all of us in many magic and exciting ways. A special thanks to everyone in and around our very caring community who as always energetically organized and supported those countless vital causes such as Santa’s Anonymous, Community Christmas, Ponoka Food Bank, Stuff-A-Bus, CPR Holiday Train, Kinsmen Carol Festival, Festival of Trees, School and Church concerts, and all the other wonderful activities, events and kind generosity that reaches out to make the glorious holiday season a very happy and special celebration for so many.
Now let’s have a little fun
• Our children and grandchildren really know how to push the little hint buttons and get their way. Saw it, liked it, asked Grandma, and got it.
• During this holiday season not only did I fall off the diet wagon, I dragged it into the woods, set it on fire, and used the insurance money to buy more cup cakes and eggnog for my buddies.
• Research shows that laughing for two minutes is just as healthy as 10 minutes of jogging, so now I am going to sit on a park bench and wave, cheer, and chuckle as all those hardy runners go by.
• To all mothers. Don’t be so hard on yourself…the mom in E.T. had an alien living in her house for days and didn’t even notice.
• To all husbands. Never laugh at your wife’s choices…you were one of them. The day we stop believing in Santa Claus is the day we will start getting underwear and socks for Christmas.
• Our bed is that magical place where we suddenly remember everything that we forgot to do the day before.
• Somedays I have a brain like the Bermuda triangle, where the information goes in but is never found again, and sometimes I do have to admit that my ‘train of thought’ has left the station without me. My wife asked me the other morning how I would like my eggs and I quickly replied ‘in a cake,’ which didn’t go over very well at all.
• Yes, we have all made mistakes, but you know what…life didn’t come with instructions. Hopefully all of us can just chuckle and accept our occasional screw ups and then just bravely try again.
• I will always love family movies that I can take my grandchildren to. Wonder is one of those great movies, an incredibly inspiring and heart moving production about a fifth grade student (played by Canadian actor Jacob Trembley), who has endured a lifetime of surgery and facial differences but is determined to go back to Elementary School for the first time. This is a wonderful movie that every parent and early school age student should attend, and at which you will laugh and cry your way through a couple of amazing hours, with lots of reasons to really enjoy your popcorn.
So let’s try to shake off the holiday ‘couch cobwebs’ and ‘January blahs,’ dress in layers, and then head outside to enjoy some really refreshing Alberta fresh air, and have a great first week in 2018, all of you.