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Heart! ~ If you are not a subscriber and this has been passed on to you, join us by sending a blank e-mail to four_ears @ msn.com (remove spaces) with "subscribe" in the subject line. And get the love direct! Web site: http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001 Archives: http://geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/Archives.htm ________________________________________________________ "It's been determined that it's a bad idea to give chocolate to a woman with PMS. It can worsen the condition. However, it's an even WORSE idea to try to take AWAY chocolate from a woman with PMS." - Jay Leno ______________________________________ CAN YOU SMELL IT? By Carol Roach Living in Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. Though it is a holiday here in Canada, and we have turkey and all the trimmings, I am told it is not celebrated with quite the same enthusiasm as do our American neighbours. Now don't get me wrong. We give thanks to our Lord for the bounty that he has bestowed upon us. And we remember the first settlers to Canada and the hardships they endured braving the cold Canadian winters. We remember the story of Jacques Cartier, who in 1535 came up the Shores of La Riviere St Laurent (St. Lawrence River) to establish the first settlement for New France at Stadacona. Stadacona was the native name for his village settlement. Later that named changed to Quebec City, the capital city of the province of Quebec, the province in which I live. Many of his men died from scurvy before they had even reached our shores. If it weren't for the natives as was the case with the settlers in America, Cartier and the remainder of his men would have perished. The natives introduced maize (corn) and other supplements to the European diet, and taught the men how to survive the cruel elements. Later, they taught the settlers as well how to hunt, fish, and farm. First came the fur trappers, and then "Les Femmes Favorise," elegant ladies from France who wed the trappers and created a new life and new family in this brave new world. But after all is said and done, I can bet that if I went out on the street and asked anyone who were the first people to celebrate Thanksgiving, the majority would say the pilgrims of Plymouth Rock, coming over on the Mayflower. Do we have our histories mixed up – yes, but is it because we were not taught our own history in school. It is because America takes much more pride in that part of her heritage. The pilgrim story is reenacted in plays all over the country. The Internet is bombarded with jokes and poems and information galore. The day is also known as turkey day and nobody has to question what that means. It is a given. Thanksgiving day in Canada is a national holiday as well. But you see I work for an American company as a customer service representative in its only Canadian call center. For me my Thanksgiving was just a day like any other. Though I was given a different day off to compensate for working on Thanksgiving Day, needless to say I did not have a turkey dinner. As a matter of fact I worked until 9 p.m. and didn't have much of a supper at all. When it came time for the American Thanksgiving, I thought for sure that I would have the day off. But much to my chagrin, I found out that we were working. Why? Because we are the only Canadian call center, and the American call centers in Omaha, NE, and Houston, TX, were running on skeleton staff, of course. To ease our disappointment, the company explained to us that they did not anticipate many calls and we would have a very light day. Such was the case and we laughed and joked around most of the day. We wondered why Americans would even take time from their special day with family and friends to even bother calling in to say they wanted to order a movie pass or to cancel their membership. On the other hand, we had many clients telling us how sorry they were that we had to work on Thanksgiving while everyone else had it off. If anything, we are a great group of people, and we laughed and joked all day long. There were jokes like "Do you know the Americans call Thanksgiving `turkey day?'" and the retort being "Well, it sure isn't turkey day for me. I have my tuna fish sandwich right here as I wait for my lunch break." Michael asked, " I wonder if I ordered a special turkey pizza would they make it." And Samira replied, "Yeah, if you ordered it from the states for sure." As the day wore on we became hungrier and hungrier as our lunch or supper break drew nearer and nearer. However, the strangest thing occurred. The call center started smelling like food. Since we are not allowed to bring food into the call center, the center of course never smells like food. The company cafeteria is far enough away that the aroma of food never reaches the center at all. Yet today, November 28, 2002, the call center smelled of food. How could that be? Charles, with the wisdom of Solomon and the humor of Seinfeld, retorted, "It's the Americans cooking their turkeys that we smell. They weren't about to leave us out on their biggest day of the year." The explanation for the smell of food in the call center was never determined, but for this little group of Canadians who never got to eat turkey on either Thanksgiving Day, in our minds on the American Thanksgiving, we sure could smell it. Carol Roach storytime123 @ hotmail.com Copyright © December 9, 2002, by Carol Roach. All rights reserved. ~~~~~~~~~~~ About the author: Carol has written several internet stories and lives in Montreal Quebec Canada. You can write to her at: storytime123 @ hotmail.com to receive any of her stories. ______________________________________ ANNOUNCEMENT! "Beach Walks" by Diane Dean White Regardless of your age, the often humorous and heart-warming writings of Diane Dean White will make you feel you are right there strolling through life with her. From growing up in a college town, next to the state capitol, her treasured memories of Michigan Lakes nestled among small towns to scenic ocean mornings on the South Carolina coast, she weaves her loving stories. Diane's experience as a writer and former newspaper reporter, mother and grandmother have enriched the lives of thousands of readers through her heartfelt words. BEACH WALKS will keep you wanting to read more of this author's works as you turn the pages to each new story and experience she shares. Diane Dean White TheLamb212 @ aol.com http://bw.newsmoose.com/ ______________________ QUOTES FROM LESSER KNOWN FOLKS Whenever she sneezes, Madison now makes a habit of following it up with a cheerful, "Bless you!" ______________________ FAMILY LOVE MOMENT Cody rolled the ball across the floor to Madison, whose legs were open like a net. When the ball missed the "net" Cody eyes widened. He leaned over to whisper to his Aunt Beth, "I almost hit Madison's n-u-t-s!" ______________________ FROM YOUR FRIENDLY E-MAIL CARRIER In response to "Jingle Bells" by Mark Davis (http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/121702.htm) Oh Mark, this is a wonderful story!!! I love it! It made me laugh, and it brought tears to my eyes. Aren't our little ones such embarrassing creatures, and all at once delightful. I raised three girls into grown women, (as my daughters say, "I decided to let them live!"), and I remember many shocked faces, including my own, as I pushed one or all of them in my cart. I was also a single mother a hundred or so years ago. God bless you for your humor and your courage!! May God bless you in this holy season, and know that you have a friend in southwestern Virginia. - Blessings, Jaye Lewis, jlewis @ smyth.net Hi Jennifer and Family, Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!!! I always enjoy the stories. Thanks so Much. Sandra ______________________ ON THE HOMEFRONT HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays as much as we did! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our awesome nephew, Marc Senger...such a treat to see you over the holidays with your equally awesome sister! The holidays for the Oliver family this year meant a family reunion in El Paso! A HUGE one with both sets of grandparents and most of the aunts, uncles, and cousins present along with our beautiful great- niece, Kari, just two and a half weeks old (making my sister, Gayle, a first-time grandmother!). We woke up Monday morning to hear Ethan shout, "HEY, GUYS! IT'S SNOWING OUTSIDE! WE CAN MAKE CASTLES! AND BIRTHDAY CAKES! AND SNOW ANGELS! Their first hands-on experience with snow resulted in Matthew throwing a snowball squarely at Madison's forehead. It was a first for us in dispensing snow-play etiquette. The kids rode a fire engine for the first time thanks to their Uncle Russ, a volunteer firefighter. Sometimes the age difference between cousins does not deter a little bit of fun. Our college-aged nephew, Steve, didn't think twice before disappearing under a billiards table at the fire station. "Where'd Matthew go?" he asked Matthew, who was hunched under there. "He went that way!" Matthew said, giggling. Cody said on the way home from El Paso, "You know what, Mom? I love my whole family! And not just the six of us. I mean, our grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles…" It was so good to go back home for a family reunion. Thanks to all who made it possible and a special thanks goes to my sister, Kim, and her husband, Russ, for putting up with us - especially Stephen! May the new year ring in happiness, health, and peace for you and your loved ones! LOVE, JENNIFER I. OLIVER AND FAMILY four_ears @ msn.com "To live that in thy last long sleep, Smiles my be thine wile all around thee weep." - Nellie L. Wallace, June 24, 1873 _________________________________________________________ This E-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but first ask the writer for permission before forwarding. Thank you for doing the decent thing! Ü ________________________________________________________ SUBMIT STORY, QUOTE, OR FAMILY LOVE MOMENT: http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/submission.htm FEEDBACK: four_ears @ msn.com ________________________________________________________ |
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