Edition 506 – Peace & Goodwill

For a few years there, when our sons were younger, we’d venture to the Anglican Church in Camden on Christmas Eve, and take in the late afternoon, family service. The Reverend at the time, Tony Galea, made a point of making it fun, as well as spiritual.

Not being regular churchgoers, this was a time of year, where we took a moment to reflect, rejoice and take in the message, its importance in our lives, and our society. It was not merely a time to give thanks, but also to stop the outside noise of daily life, and for not quite an hour, immerse yourself in the story as it was told by Reverend Tony.

Dinner afterwards would be varied. Sometimes a barbecue. Sometimes something Trish had prepared, before we ventured out. When Trish’s Mum, Peggy, lived with us, it was extra special, to have three generations at the table, all talking about the Christmases that had been, as we looked toward the Christmas that was to shortly arrive. Our sons were blessed to hear from their grandmother, the story of her Christmases at the ages that they were in that moment, back in pre-war London, when as the eldest of five children, she talked of the commotion, and the bounty, that was shared each year.

Some years, after dinner, we’d hop in the car, grabbing our dogs with us on the way out the door, as we drove around to check out the Christmas lights in our local area. With Peggy and the boys in the back seat, and variously, Dolly and Lulu, or Bonnie & Emma, the panting, slobbery Boxer dogs in the very back of the car, we’d motor around and admire the handywork of the local residents. Occasionally, we’d come across a home that was lit up just like the Griswalds home in the Christmas Vacation movies….and joked about where Eddie’s motorhome was parked.

Back home, as the boys would hop straight into bed, for they’d already pyjamad up before heading out, the next element of the ritual would take place. Trish would retrieve the Santa sacks and fill them with gifts that did the annual trip to sit on the old bloke’s knee justice. My ritual? Grab some carrots from the fridge and devour half of them, or leave their remnants behind on the grass, to evidence the arrival, and departure, of reindeer. There may have been a half eaten fruit mince pie left on the kitchen bench as well, further proof that we were on the “nice” list.

Our sons are now 29 and 26. They each have partners and are making their respective way in life. There’s no longer carrots on the lawn on Christmas morning, but still, to this day, the Santa sacks are full. Except, now, there are four, not two, and Santa is quite practical with the presents he leaves behind. One son’s annual supply of underwear, for instance, travels all the way from the North Pole, each December.

From our family to yours, if you celebrate Christmas, may it be a time for peace, goodwill and celebration, more so this year, as those of us in Sydney, continue to hurt from the horrific events of 10 days ago. If you celebrate a different religious occasion, or don’t celebrate Christmas at all, may it be a special time with your family, the most important element of our society.

This Week’s Tip

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Love Actually, and The Holiday – three Christmas movies that we’ll line up to watch, again, this year.”