Pulling together the articles for our December issue has brought Christmas to mind a little earlier than usual for me this year. I don’t mind – it’s a time of year I enjoy. Sharing my desk with me as I’ve written and edited, have been my feline helpers Sam and Levi. They like to show their support for Seaside by pressing important buttons on the keyboard, or chasing the curser on the screen. Even when I’m pressed for time, or trying to get an email answered urgently, I find it difficult to turn away their ‘help’. Reading Shelley Breadner’s ‘Veterinary Voice’ this month reminded me why this is. Pets bring us comfort and security. They have certainly helped make my house a home.
I know that the holiday season isn’t always filled with joy and light for everyone. Christmas can be a lonely time of year and a time when those without are surrounded by images of plenty. There are many people who spend time giving back, and it doesn’t always have to be with a grand gesture. Supporting community events, checking in with your neighbours, bringing a smile to someone’s day are all ways to spread a little light.
Connecting with some other people in our community who have moved here from abroad was a real highlight for me this month. I learned how they are working out their own ways to blend old and new customs; making Canada home whilst remembering where they come from. What an amazing community that makes! There’s a romantic appeal for me of this vast country having space for people of all backgrounds. I know that the Saanich Peninsula is no cosmopolitan metropolis, but there are many residents here with an immigration story somewhere in their family history. This blending of cultures creates an abundance of festivities for us all to share.
I was struck by the number of people who mentioned calling or skyping faraway friends and family. Of course this has become part of my new Christmas tradition too. Other new traditions for me and my family: carol singing at San Pen’s Extended Care Unit with the 1st Tsartlip Scout Group; seeing the outside of people’s houses lit up and decked out (not something I was used to in Britain); egg nog – it’s new for me and I’m not sure that I love it yet, but I certainly feel Canadian when I drink it!
However you’re celebrating the season, I wish you well!
