Between socializing at Christmas parties for the company, the community, friends gathering for eggnog, baking, creating for last minute school events, volunteering with the Salvation Army, the local food banks for shelters you might find you have lost track of some of the finer parts of the Christmas season. This year I found that Christmas spirit in many different places. While I’m not one to decorate, or do holiday baking and prepping, I can appreciate those that do.
As for shopping, I have done what many attempt to do and that is buy ahead of the curve, leaving very little to do except for wrapping of gift items. The mail disruption meant no rush on Christmas cards, which I did buy new ones for the sending. Watch your mail box in 2025. Maybe it will be like a letter from Nostradamus – one filled with prophecy! Not likely. HOWEVER, here is one from the seer himself: A significant change in world politics according to Nostradamus, a significant change in world politics will take place. A decrease in the influence of established Western countries and the emergence of new world powers would characterize this change. Okay this one is rather telling! Considering we have come off of a Saskatchewan double election fall.
Does your Christmas memory bank bring back times when your family gathered as children, bringing aunts, uncles and grandparents together. Enjoying the simple pleasures of company. A turkey and the basic necessities not overly lavish Christmas giving. The frail looking trees and not the $200. variety. Decorations that were home made or handed down from another generation. Eagerly awaiting company to come by the house or seeing that unexpected box of goodies arrive by mail or train. Playing out doors with toboggans, maybe sliding behind a snow machine or being pulled along by horse. Taking sleighrides or going on a school trip to bowl before the classes are finished for the year.
My personal build up to the end of the year included things that are written in the popular Christmas letters we receive.
Working through the year with some year end goals insight including; Remembrance Day, Roughrider and Rams playoff games, emceeing events such as the Prairie Winds Band Christmas show, being apart of the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign, serving meals to Regina Catholic School Division children at the Conexus Arts Centre and also helping Legacy Catering serve the folks from the North Central Community. And I cannot forget the MS Musical Christmas Card and the Santa Claus Parade. Year end parties with the Ovarian Cancer Walk participants lead to some crazy Reindeer games. And the bonus of one of my high School teachers, Gordon Bonokoski, singing and telling jokes! Teachers do leave a life time mark on their students. I want to thank the Prairie Winds Band for including me as a Honourary Member of their band this year. What a wonderful surprise to receive a banner acknowledging my emcee work! What a hoot that was! Our Regina Welsh Society had a very nice Christmas get together as well. And knowing that there are so many Regina residents with ties to Wales might make it easier for an “in-the-planning” trip to see our relatives over-seas.
As for 2025, I will help a friend celebrate her 50th birthday in Mexico. Just 5 of us going to enjoy some sun, sand and a ton of laughs. Did someone say, bring the TEA LIGHTS! (Yes, there is a story there!) We continue to line up our calendars for Country Thunder Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Roughrider season, Men’s World Curling, Canada’ Farm Show, Casino Regina emceeing and concerts. My goodness, the year is laid out in front of us.
Happy Christmas Season & soak up all the wonders of the holiday season. Do special things for yourself. Mostly find happiness in all around you.
