Saturday 21 December 2013

Christmas Greetings

I’d like to say that Christmas snuck up on us this year, but it didn’t. It seemed to come right out of the blue, crashing into our lives with the realization that, “Holy crap!” it was just around the corner. It’s not that we didn’t have plenty of warning as the snow has been falling here pretty steadily since the first week of December, and  we’ve had some very cold days. We also got our outdoor decorations up earlier than usual, but still none of it seemed real until the big day was less than a week away. We’re in the swing of it now though with the missus baking cookies, me baking tourtières (French Canadian-style meat pies – a Christmas staple in this part of the country), and favourite Christmas tunes are playing on the stereo.

All of which makes me think about just how damned lucky we are.

Some friends will have an empty seat at the table previously occupied by a loved one who left us this past year. Neighbours who are experiencing hard times will be looking sadly at trees with little under them for their children. Still others will be totally alone for reasons varying from work obligations to personal misfortune. Some we can help by giving, others by inviting them into our homes. And for others we can but try to lift their spirits by wishing them Christmas greetings from the bottom of our hearts.

And if there is any ‘magic’ in Christmas it isn’t Santa (although he’s pretty cool), it’s what happens when we rise above the hurly-burly of our own seasonal celebrations to give and share with friends, family, and even strangers who often want nothing more than to be able to wish a Merry Christmas in return.

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May all the joys of the season be with you and yours.

18 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

    Nice post!

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  2. Merry Christmas and all that good stuff to you and your family.

    May you have a happy healthy 2014 as well.

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  3. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    The big question is what do you put in your Tourtière? I've read that families have recipes that have been passed from generation to generation.

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    1. Thanks Richard. This is not an old family recipe; it's one I got from a friend. Apparently it's a Lac St. Jean variant and it's very tasty. If you're interested email me (the link is in my profile) and I'll send a copy to you.

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  4. Canajun:

    I've never had a Tourtiere, not really sure what it is either but they must taste good if you made it

    Merry Christmas to you and your family too

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast

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    1. Bob - You're missing a real taste treat if you've never had tourtiere. Add it to your list the next time you're in Quebec.

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  5. Merry Christmas and Happy 2014!

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  6. Dave, a very touching post. It sometimes seems the suffering is overwhelming.

    Here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas, and may your wishes be granted all through the new year.

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    1. Thanks David. I'm sure that statistically Christmas is no worse than any other time of the year; it just seems that way.

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  7. Merry Christmas, and have a great New Year!

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  8. Canajun - The holiday seems to have come so quickly for me as well ... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. (You make your own tourtiere - now I am truly impressed.)

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    1. VStar Lady - Thanks, and to you too. Don't be too impressed; it's really not that hard. :-)

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    2. Not so ... anything involving pastry is impressive!!!

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