Every year during the Christmas season, I tried to get my children and family to have their pictures taken with Santa. One year I even convinced my mom (in her 80s) to sit on Santa’s knee with me. The photo is priceless, as are the ones of the children and grandchildren.
So this year I plan on having a picture of myself on Santa’s knee. This will mark great changes in my life: the downsizing and living in an apartment with all the adjustments that entailed.
Santa will be available Friday, Dec. 15, 3–7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 16, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Pharmasave.
The Grendel Group will present Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales read by Valerie Laub Wednesday, Dec. 20, 7 p.m. at Grendel Place, 3768 Second Avenue. Admission by donation with refreshments by the Grendel Group, also by donation.
Saturday, Dec. 23, 7 p.m. the Round Lake Hall will host an all-out sing-along of Christmas carols and songs accompanied by guitar and ukuleles. The singing will last until 8:30 when there will be some warm apple cider and Christmas goodies that you have brought with you to share. Questions: Judy 250-846-5296.
A bit off topic from Christmas, I found this article on Elise Raymonde de Laroche (Baroness). In 1909 Harry Harper, one of the earliest aviation journalists working in Europe, recorded a conversation between Charles Voisin, co-owner with his brother Gabriel, of an aircraft manufacturing company and Ms. Raymonde de Laroche. She was asking Mr. Voisin what she could do now as she had tried painting, sculpture, driving race cars and even made flights in balloons.
Mr. Voisin’s response was asking her if she wanted to be the first woman in the world to learn to fly an aeroplane. The rest is history. She became the first woman in the world to earn a pilot’s license from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale in March 1910. Don’t ever underestimate the power and bravery of a woman! Want more? The Brave Baroness – First Licensed Ladybird from Harry Harper, Air Trails (1953); Women Aviators: From Amelia Earhart to Sally Ride, Making History in Air and Space, Bernard Marck (2009).
Christmas Hampers — an easy way to ease the hearts of community members trying to create Christmas for themselves and family. Things you can do: donate food, gifts or money, volunteer, sponsor a family. Smithers and Telkwa residents apply for a hamper at Smithers Community Services in the train station; Moricetown residents apply at the Moricetown Band Office. The depot is open Dec. 4 to Dec. 23, 3842 Third Avenue, Unit B (side door).
Have fun and help out the Hamper Program: The Lions Skate with Santa Friday, Dec. 15, 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. at Smithers Arena. Sunday, Dec. 16, 2–4 p.m. Remax Swim at BV Regional Pool. Participate in these events and donate non-perishable food items to the Christmas Hamper Program.
Closing with: “Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.”
–Samuel Johnson
Lorraine Doiron can be reached by email at gradoir@citywest.ca.