It’s been a pretty tough year, to be honest.
Getting Christmas cards ready for the mail a few nights ago drove the point home. This was a year where we said goodbye to a number of good friends.
For most of those friendships, Christmas was often the time of year we would get together (from mutually busy lives) for dinner or a lunch. Quickly, we could catch up on the last conversation, reminisce about the old days and have a good hug or a handshake as a send-off until we met again.
Those days are now over, but those times – when we made time to meet – are happy times that will be remembered, often in a pensive moment alone. How lucky we have been.
There are scads of other traditions this time of year.
One personal favourite is when the whole family goes out to find a Christmas tree together. Between two farms there is always a perfect one that fits the bill. Gone unnoticed of course, is the woodlot trick of choosing a tree that will let another one thrive in the future. We found ourselves pointing out numerous trees at different stages and locations that will keep this tradition alive for the next decade.
The fragrance of a fresh tree cancels out the mess caused by falling needles that tinkle onto the hardwood floor with every twist and turn of decorating. We’re still waiting to get everyone together to install the final ornament, which is the Christmas angel at the top of the tree.
Like years past, we look forward to coming in from the cold outdoors to be greeted with holiday smells like fresh turkey and baking, while the warmth of a crackling fire helps thaw out cold hands and toes.
It’s a time of togetherness we thoroughly enjoy and we hope all readers can cherish something similar.
While so many of us are so lucky in our own way, there are others who need a lift.
The age old practices of sending cards or visiting neighbours with trays of cookies or cheer, seem to have lost their luster in many neighbourhoods.
Everyone is so busy and some are caught up so much in their own lives they fail to realize part of keeping Christmas well is sharing time with others. We would encourage more of that this year. Get out and see some people if you can.
As this is a season of peace and hope, we wish those blessings for all of our readers and advertisers who make our Newspaper the success it is.
Savour the past, enjoy today and look forward to the good things life has in store.
Merry Christmas, Wellington.
