ÿWPC p9ÙË㧸%Ød½ÇÚ¿IgÿfÄðÔT$óã¦Î´+§²%X;þãg¤n’Ê{œð\ó †‘ñ»ÓxÆÐ¹ÊDçI³bëHÈá‹O ¢:SÅÕºNu]$ EúÇH™3{°û!' £&{”ÉÌùÃßõ~`nÿõŒÂXuÑf«õFSIŒ7ê‘×¶/8Ygžé{9ç†QÂó°þ“¹tÊÀÜ­Äû_¥ÇDôjùA8¤É1wÉŒ°ˆO)Ëû†–Uú¤B…fµ ›¦Øˆ…ŽPÈ1McRl=´„éfã ›ŒT€žcø|}4G½.÷“Ć}µ§‰÷tXjõoépy9LêÉËD0;ÂÖ˜6ÀäFo!»B’ £{ÿþzüJÖk°493Íùè²H¬ úÿe‡®|jc%ÜÌävÀ›Šçýr6OÄàzL8ëàŸ[•€Y¿NI"s?¹¿s2똡+b):§,‚45þµ0 3ÎX SnƒUc!{À;¯ÅEµúv È­j¢)¹Àp†æÉÎý¦—Rl uëé©qqÜÆHsU“9›9Jõ• „;·Ò‰ÞÖoj´1<ÏtJ?§gtÄÏN\ØÿÔ a5—8,)žÄ#!îUN %] 0(c^ ‹w@—4×ëú müZbmmbuuE}˜HP LaserJet IIIØ,,,,,Ø,0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ìr–3‰ Í[Î[ÏDÐÑÒDÓÔDÕDÖ}AV1PÊ€Ô3|xÖÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ anglehair-DonkinBretonerHo Ho- ù-"ù. ù ;Ñ  ÑÑ € ÑÑ#€Xÿÿd#ÑÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òÔ_ÔÑ€ƒUÑÌÌÔ_ÔòòWrote€this€story€to€submit€to€the€Cape€Bretoner€Magazine€(Christmas€2005)€but€was€too€lateÐ ˆØ Ðfor€it€to€appearóó.Ð tÄ ÐÔ_ÔÔ_Ôà  àà ` àÌÌÔ_Ôà@¼¼ìàòòñÍñòòñÍñTHE€MAGIC€OF€Ô_ÔCHRISTMASÔ_ÔñÍñóóñÍñˆÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà@~~)ìàñÎñòòñÎñByˆÐ  ` ÐÌà@––!ìàAnne€Ralph€WebsteróóˆÐ è 8  ÐÔ_ÔÔ_ÔñÎñóóñÎñÌÌà  àNo€matter€how€old€I€get€(and€I€have€been€around€for€Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔsomeÔ_Ô€time)€or€how€manyÏChristmas€holidays€go€by€I€Ô_ÔoftenÔ_Ô€reminisce€about€Christmas€holidays€during€my€childhoodÏin€Glace€Bay€and€realize€there€has€never€been€a€time€in€my€life€that€has€quite€measured€upÏto€the€wonder€and€magic€of€those€times€back€in€the€40's€and€50's€and€it€is€difficult€if€notÏimpossible€to€find€those€memorable€times€in€a€Christmas€holiday€anymore.ÌÌà  à€Remember€the€40's€and€50's€when€strict€discipline€was€the€norm€and€parents€wereÏin€control€not€the€children.€We€were€taught,€guided€and€disciplined€by€our€parents,€ourÏteachers€(ouch!),€the€church€(no€gabbing€in€the€back€pew€„€ever€wonder€how€our€parentsÏknew€about€these€things€by€the€time€we€got€Ô_Ôhome?)Ô_Ô€and€indeed€adults€on€the€street€whoÏwere€not€above€telling€us€to€quit€slouching€and€take€our€hands€out€of€our€Ô_Ôpockets.Ô_Ô€€It€wasÏfrom€this€type€of€leadership€that€we€learned€to€be€responsible€for€our€actions€and€to€fullyÏappreciate€what€Christmas€was€all€about.ÌÌà  àWe€did€not€have€lengthy€lists€of€items€we€expected€as€kids€of€this€generation€doÏbecause€we€knew€times€were€hard€and€money€was€difficult€to€come€by€Ô_ÔjustÔ_Ô€to€keep€a€familyÏgoing.€€We€would€give€hints€of€something€we€would€ð ðreally€likeðð€to€have€well€before€theÏseason€began.€€At€the€beginning€of€December€anticipation€would€start€to€build€and€by€theÏtime€snow€started€to€fall€and€the€stores€began€to€display€their€goods€in€the€windows€weÏwere€Ô_ÔdemonstratingÔ_Ô€our€best€behavior€in€the€hope€we€would€not€get€a€lump€of€coal€in€ourÏstocking€Ô_Ô(parents€always€used€the€ð ðlump€of€coalðð€when€they€felt€it€was€necessary€to€keep€usÏin€line).Ô_Ô€€The€beautifully€decorated€windows€on€Commercial€Street€would€easily€take€meÏaway€to€a€wonderful€fantasy€world€and€I€would€Ô_ÔbecomeÔ_Ô€mesmerized€with€the€toy€trains,Ïgorgeous€dolls€with€bright€faces€that€glowed€with€the€colored€lights€and€all€the€latest€toysÏthat€children€would€be€delighted€to€find€under€their€tree€on€Christmas€morning.€€Ô_ÔWe€wouldÏsave€pennies€from€our€meager€allowance€to€buy€gifts€and€would€spend€hours€inÏWoolworthððs€looking€for€just€the€right€gift€our€nickels€and€dimes€could€buy.€ChristmasÔ_Ô€wasÏthe€most€wonderful€time€of€the€year€and€my€parents€worked€hard€and€sacrificed€a€lot€toÏcreate€an€atmosphere€that€was€purely€magical€and€memorable€and€that€was€the€greatestÏgift€they€gave€to€us.€€The€love€and€warmth€of€the€Christmas€season€back€then€will€alwaysÏremain€in€my€memories.ÌÐ @-(, Ðà  à€The€breathtaking€aroma€of€cakes€and€pudding€being€baked€Ô_Ôin€the€oven€of€the€oldÏcoal€stoveÔ_Ô€on€cold€Ô_Ôand€windyÔ_Ô€days€in€November€reminded€us€that€the€holiday€season€wasÏnot€too€far€away.€€Ô_ÔThe€kitchen€would€get€a€new€coat€of€paint€(remember€white€enamel)Ïusually€on€Sunday€my€dadððs€only€day€off€and€at€least€one€of€us€kids€would€always€comeÏfrom€church€to€get€white€paint€on€our€clothes€despite€warnings€to€be€careful.€ChristmasÔ_ÔÏgreetings€cards,€letters€to€Santa,€and€gifts€were€prepared€and€sent€Ô_ÔoutÔ_Ô€and€we€anxiouslyÏlooked€forward€to€receiving€greetings€and€gifts€delivered€by€the€mailman€in€the€daysÏleading€up€to€Christmas€Day€Ô_Ô(hard€to€believe€we€would€become€excited€by€the€delivery€of€aÏsimple€Christmas€card).Ô_Ô€€€Then€it€was€time€for€Christmas€baking€and€Ô_ÔI€loved€decoratingÔ_Ô€allÏthe€fancy€and€delicious€cookies€which€were€stored€away€from€kids€who€would€surely€beÏtempted€toÔ_Ô€sneak€one€or€twoÔ_Ô€„€out€of€sight,€out€of€mind,€well€perhaps€not€out€of€mind€butÏwe€could€wait€after€all€we€WERE€SUPPOSED€to€be€on€our€best€behavior!!€€Ô_ÔI€often€wonderÏhow€my€motherððs€baking€always€Ô_ÔcñÏñoñÏññÐñañÐñmeÔ_Ô€out€of€the€old€coal€stove€oven€just€right€when€theÏtemperature€could€vary€so€much.€WithÔ_Ô€just€days€to€go€it€was€time€to€go€hunting€for€giftsÏwhich€was€almost€always€quite€fruitless€as€our€parents€somehow€became€smarter€each€year.€ÏOne€Christmas€my€parents€hid€the€presents€in€the€garage€which€was€about€100€feet€fromÏthe€back€door€and€low€and€behold€on€Christmas€Eve€it€snowed€and€snowed€along€with€aÏstrong€wind€which€filled€in€the€path€as€quickly€as€it€was€shoveled€out€„€they€persevered€asÏthey€knew€what€Christmas€would€be€like€for€us€kids€without€presents€under€the€tree€butÏneedless€to€say€the€presents€were€not€hid€in€the€garage€after€that€eventful€eve.€€The€treeÏwould€be€set€up€a€couple€of€days€before€Christmas€and€us€kids€took€great€delight€Ô_Ôto€helpÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÏwith€decorations€to€make€itÔ_Ô€the€best€one€ever€each€year.€Ô_ÔOur€handmade€decorations€wereÏalways€proudly€displayed€unlike€the€artistic€theme€trees€we€see€these€days.€TheÔ_Ô€lights€backÏthen€would€become€very€hot€and€there€was€always€the€danger€of€fire€so€the€tree€could€notÏbe€left€unattended€„€the€Ô_Ôlights€constantlyÔ_Ô€burned€out€and€we€would€become€frustratedÏtrying€to€find€the€bad€one€„€remember€angle€Ô_Ôhair„Ô_Ô€good€heavens,€what€were€they€thinking!!€Ô_ÔÌÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÌÔ_ÔÔ_Ôà  àÔ_ÔÔ_ÔWho€could€forget€the€Sunday€School€Christmas€concerts€and€how€excited€we€were€toÏget€dressed€up€and€do€our€little€Christmas€presentations€on€stage.€€Talent€was€in€shortÏsupply€but€some€of€the€performances€or€lack€thereof€were€quite€ð ðmemorableðð.€I€wasÏsomewhat€surprised€my€brother€would€remind€me€of€these€concerts€as€when€the€big€fellowÏin€the€red€suit€came€through€the€door€bellowing€his€ð ðHo€Ho€Hoðð€he€was€under€motherððsÏcoatÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôwhere€he€remained€for€the€rest€of€the€evening€while€my€brother€or€I€would€retrieve€hisÏgift€from€Santa.€€€€Ô_ÔÌÌà  àTurkey€dinner€with€all€the€trimmings€was€a€once€a€year€treat€and€held€as€muchÏexcitement€as€the€gifts€we€would€receive€from€Santa.€€I€remember€it€was€the€only€time€of€theÏyear€we€had€bottles€of€Coca-Cola€in€the€house€and€were€allowed€to€have€it€on€the€table€withÏour€dinner€„€what€a€treat€that€was!€€We€of€course€ate€like€it€was€our€very€last€meal€andÏcould€hardly€move€away€from€the€table€although€before€long€we€were€into€the€ChristmasÏcandies,€nuts€and€other€treats€that€were€only€available€at€Christmas.€Ô_ÔImagine€oranges€andÏfigs€were€a€real€delicacy€which€were€only€available€at€Christmas€and€kids€were€delighted€toÏfind€an€orange€in€their€stocking!!€€IÔ_Ô€also€remember€that€first€and€foremost€the€joy€ofÏChristmas€centered€around€a€celebration€of€the€birth€of€Christ,€churches€were€Ô_ÔbeautifullyÏadornedÔ_Ô€and€carols€were€sung€at€Ô_ÔChristmas€services,Ô_Ô€in€the€schools€and€on€the€streets.€Ð @-(, ÐуUÑâ âÑ  ÑÑ€ÑÑ8€GrXXdìXXdì8Ñâ âÑ  ÑGlace€Bay€was€the€only€place€I€ever€heard€Ô_Ôthe€churchÔ_Ô€bells€ringing€Ô_Ôout€the€sounds€ofÏChristmas€onÔ_Ô€Christmas€Eve€and€what€a€wonderful€Ô_Ômemory€to€recall.€On€that€nightÔ_Ô€I€canÏremember€waiting€for€my€dad€to€come€down€Main€Ô_ÔStreet€strugglingÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôwith€his€crutchÔ_ÔÏthrough€the€snow€after€closing€the€shoe€repair€shop€on€York€Street€where€he€worked€sixÏdays€a€week€and€most€nights;€€the€aroma€of€the€fir€tree€and€the€glow€of€the€colored€lights;Ïand€of€course€the€excitement€of€the€arrival€of€Santa€sent€us€off€to€bed€early€in€our€newÏpyjamas€and€Ô_ÔhousecoatsñÑñ.€As€we€got€older€we€were€allowed€to€stay€up€and€listen€to€the€storyÏofñÑññÒñ€usually€after€we€listened€to€the€story€ofñÒñ€ð ðScroogeðð€on€the€old€radioñÓñ€and€who€can€forget€ð ðYes,€Virginia€there€is€a€Santa€Clausðð€„€ifÏthat€did€not€make€you€a€believer,€nothing€would!ñÓññÔñ.ñÔñÔ_Ô€€Ô_ÔñÕñWeñÕññÖñIn€the€morning€Ô_ÔweñÖñÔ_ÔÔ_Ô€would€wait€for€myÏparents€to€get€up€first€to€light€the€fires€as€the€house€would€be€quite€cold€Ô_Ô(remember€seeingÏyour€breath€on€cold€mornings€and€dressing€under€the€covers,€that€took€some€talent!!)Ô_Ô€andÏthen€my€dad€would€Ô_Ôinsist€we€all€haveÔ_Ô€breakfast€before€going€into€the€living€room€Ô_Ôto€see€ifÏSanta€paid€a€visit€during€the€night.Ô_Ô€We€were€so€wound€up€we€could€hardly€get€a€bite€downÏwhile€my€mother€would€plead€with€my€dad€to€let€us€loose€before€we€burst€at€the€seams.€ÌÌà  àÔ_ÔWe€would€notÔ_Ô€get€all€the€presents€we€hoped€for€Ô_ÔbutÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔwouldÔ_ÔÔ_Ô€surely€getÔ_ÔÔ_Ô€something€weÏasked€forÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_Ô€and€there€were€always€new€board€games€to€learn€and€play€along€with€clothes€thatÏwe€needed.€€I€can€remember€wishing€for€a€pair€of€Barbara€Ann€Scott€figure€skates€for€aÏnumber€of€years€but€with€two€older€brothers€I€was€Ô_Ôð ðbestowedððÔ_Ô€with€their€hand„me„downs.€ÏI€was€about€7€or€8€years€old€when€my€mom€took€me€to€the€Miners€Forum€to€see€BarbaraÏAnn€Scott€perform€and€I€was€in€absolute€Heaven.€In€my€dreams€at€night€I€would€performÏall€the€artistic€twists€Ô_Ôand€rotationsÔ_Ô€as€graceful€as€Barbara€„€she€was€my€idol€and€I€just€knewÏthat€a€pair€of€Barbara€Ann€Scott€skates€would€surely€help€me€to€attain€my€goal€to€be€aÏprofessional€figure€skater.€€Finally,€a€number€of€years€later€and€after€much€begging€andÏpleading€a€pair€of€figure€skates€appeared€under€the€tree€„€needless€to€say€I€was€on€top€of€theÏworld.€€€My€dad€whose€sharpened€most€of€the€skates€in€Glace€Bay€at€that€time€remarkedÏÔ_Ôð ðyouððllÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_Ô€fall€on€your€face€with€those€Ô_ÔfancyÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔlookingÔ_Ô€skatesðð€and€sure€enough€that€is€exactlyÏwhat€I€did€before€my€dad€took€them€to€the€shop€and€filed€off€the€picks.€€Those€of€you€whoÏskated€to€the€Donkin€Bank€in€the€Miners€Forum€will€remember€we€did€not€do€figures.€ÏAnyway,€I€never€did€learn€to€twirl€around€the€ice€like€Barbara€Ann€Ô_ÔScottÔ_Ô€but€I€never€forgotÏhow€much€joy€she€brought€into€my€life€and€that€of€other€little€girls€whose€dream€it€was€toÏbecome€another€ð ðBarbara€Annðð.€ÌÌà  àThere€was€always€a€bit€of€a€let€down€when€the€holidays€were€over€as€we€knew€itÏwould€be€another€whole€year€before€we€would€experience€another€wonderful€familyÏChristmas.€€Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔItÔ_Ô€is€difficult€to€explain€to€my€grandchildren€how€much€enjoyment€we€receivedÏfrom€what€they€would€consider€to€be€inconsequential€as€it€is€definitely€a€different€worldÏtoday€with€new€values€and€unfortunately€Ô_ÔI€doubt€they€will€ever€experience€or€indeed€beÏable€to€appreciate€that€same€magic€and€wonder€of€the€true€meaning€of€Christmas€as€I€didÏso€many€years€ago€in€Glace€Bay.€€ÌÌà  àAlthough€I€have€been€away€from€my€hometown€for€many€years€my€most€treasuredÏmoments€of€Glace€Bay€are€not€only€of€good€times,€Christmas€memories€or€of€the€beauty€ofÏCape€Breton€Island€but€also€of€the€people€who€live€there€„€a€kinder€more€caring€people€oneÏcould€never€meet€-€it€is€and€always€will€be€the€dearest€place€in€my€heart.€Our€house€was€notÐ @-(, Ðfancy,€no€telephone,€fridge,€TV,€central€heating,€etc€but€it€was€a€ð ðhomeðð€full€of€love,€theÏdoor€was€always€open,€the€teapot€never€empty,€and€the€old€rocking€chair€by€the€kitchenÏstove€was€the€scene€of€many€stories€and€much€laughter.€€ÌÌà  àThank€you€for€allowing€me€to€share€my€precious€memories€of€a€Christmas€Past.Ì.Ìà  àÌó ó