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Hello Folks:
By the time you read this, maybe a log fire will
be crackling in your living room, enveloping the evening in its cozy glow.
Perhaps you will be writing out your Christmas cards and sending them
away to old friends and family members living far across the globe; or
watching a choir on TV, singing those lovely old, familiar carols; or
else trimming an evergreen tree with twinkling lights, and well loved
ornaments. The Season with its traditions of hospitality, goodwill and
generosity will be spinning its magic around your minds and hearts.
Like many of us, I turn reminiscent at Christmas. Perhaps more so now
that I am older. I recall good times and happy days of past years, and
look forward to joining with friends and family to sustain those memories
and create new ones. And this Christmas, in particular those new memories
will be kindled in a very different setting. On the night of December
24th I shall be winging my way from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney to join my
sister Phyllis, her husband, Derek, and our extended Australian family
on Christmas morning. Here in Canada Leon, my husband, will celebrate
Christmas with our son, Glenn and his girl friend Claudia, and across
the country, my daughter Susan and her new husband Tom will have their
first festive Season as husband and wife in their new home in snow draped
Waterloo.
But for me, it will be T-shirt-and-shorts weather Down Under, and New
Year's Eve will probably find us sipping Aussie wine, and picnicking at
a park near the Sydney Opera House, awaiting the traditional spectacular
fireworks display over the Harbour Bridge. I will be ahead of you all
time-wise, so while we are singing Auld Lyne Sang, you here in Canada
will just be yawning to life on the 31st morning! And, when you folks
are whooping it up at our Anglo-Indian New Year's Eve gala dance of the
year, I will be lolling around in my cousins' backyard, as the sun goes
down on New Year's Day, with the smell of "chook" wings and
lamb chops on a sizzling barbecue wafting across the lawn. I will raise
my glass of rum and coke and toast you all with a heartfelt "Happy
New Year!" So look for my ghost as it weaves around the Thompson
Community Hall dance floor!
In signing off, let me wish you and your families - one and all - a very
joyous Christmas, good health and many blessings in 2003.
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