Holiday 2006

This wonderful year of 2006 is almost over. In the northern hemisphere, we are in the depths of cold and long nights. It's known as "winter". Even though it doesn't officially start until December 21, we've already experienced the worst of winter. The weather forecasters have all said this is going to be a mild winter -- somewhere. But about a month ago, we were hit with -30 and -40 degree temperatures, and that is mighty cold! We also got a lot of snow.

Then it dispersed, it warmed up, and we have enjoyed very mild temperatures, with lots of sunshine, and melting snow! That's right, the snow we had is almost all gone. There were a few puddles here and there, some water running in the gutters, but most of the snow has just "evaporated". It's gone. This doesn't seem like winter to me. When we used to get winter, it would snow, it would turn cold, and that's how it stayed until spring. Now, we got this... something's not right in this world.

I am taking a couple days off work next week, and with the Christmas holidays, it amounts to about a week. So I will be going home to see Mom and the rest of the family. Even though I was there in September, it seems like such a very long time ago. Being so far from everyone, I don't get to see them as much anymore, and I have to say that I do miss them. When I was younger, there was adventure in the world, so much to see and do, and I needed some independence. I think I've had enough of that now! hahaha -- I need family more. It will be good to be back there.

The Christmas season was always enjoyable when I was growing up. It started early in December with St.Nicholas day, and that is when we got a present. Then school ended and we had a very long winter break -- about a month, if I recall correctly. All during the worst of the winter months, there was a lot of socializing, lots of dinners everywhere, and mainly visiting and thoroughly enjoying the pleasures of snow and dark and people. That doesn't happen much anymore; not here in the city, that is for sure. It's very different. So now we have shopping, gifts, expenses, rushing, eating too much, frayed nerves, and "when will this end"!! Not the same.

My wish for you all is that you will be able to spend this holiday time with good friends and special people, whether family or not, and that you take some time to be quiet and reflect on all the good things you have, and how very lucky you are. May the new year bring more of that into your life, and may there be peace for us all. Most of all, there should be more than enough fibre in all of our lives, to warm, to caress, to make us content! And of course, the time in which to do it.

This was taken outside my office, which is just across from City Hall, and where the Olympians were presented their medals in '88. Those were different days then.