HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-12-20, Page 36PAGE 36. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2012.Modern Christmas finds Vodden agreeing with ScroogeContinued from page 31drawer in his father’s bakery, lettingthe cat out of the bag.When raising his own children,Vodden said that kind of situation
wouldn’t occur.
“It was different when children
were small, we had gifts, that sort of
thing,” he said. “We felt it was
wrong, however, to fool the children
about Santa Claus. That was unusual
for that time because Santa was a big
thing. Our kids knew that the gifts
under the tree, even if it said it was
from Santa Claus, were from Dad.
“It sort of backfired on us once
though,” he said. “John had a
playmate next door, he would have
been four or five years old at that
time. We had our Christmas parcelson Christmas morning then Johnwent to play with his friend. After afew hours, his friend’s dad broughthim home and John stomped around
saying that the real Santa Clause
went to his friend’s house and he got
wonderful gifts.”
Vodden said that he and Janis were
always afraid that their children
would let the cat out of the bag for
others, but they really didn’t talk
about it all that much and that the
children had their own way of
looking at things. However, that
never happened, and he said
Christmas has been, since then, a
time of family.
While, as a young family, the
Voddens moved around quite a bitand were far from Blyth, they didreturn to the area to celebrate.“After we were married, Jan and Ilived in all different parts of
Ontario,” he said. “At times we
would fly back here to visit, since
both Jan’s family and mine were
around here. Those were nice. It was
a really nice time.”
Some years, weather permitted
travel and others it didn’t, or
prevented flying, however, they
visited.
More recently, Vodden feels that
people have gotten away from that
and even likens himself to a pre-
ghostly visit Ebenezer Scrooge in A
Christmas Carol.
“I have to admit that, I sort ofconnect with Scrooge before he wentsoft in the head in terms of theshopping business,” he said. “I’venever been pleased about that part.”
He said that, aside from people
getting swept up in the shopping,
most of the holiday season was
getting too big, including the music,
and that played a part in why they
kept their celebration simple.
“We tend not to take part in things,
even a lot of the musical things,” hesaid. “The pop songs drive me up thewall and I really like things like theclassical cantatas, I’m not crazyabout the words, but I like the music,
I really enjoy them.
“Most of the other things are
overdone, so now the big things are
the telephone calls with the kids, and
that’s pretty much it, we don’t
usually go out. Other than that, it’s
just a day like any other.”
We just wanted to say
“Merry Christmas”,
and “thanks” for calling
on us this past year.
We appreciate your
kind patronage.
from Ron, Betty, Paul
and Dianne
K.M.M. FARM
DRAINAGE
Walton
519-887-6428 (Shop)519-527-1633
Brussels Agri Services
& Cowboy Loft
RR #3 Brussels 519-887-9391 • Toll Free: 1-877-887-9391
www.brusselsagri.com
Located at Brussels Livestock, 1 mile east of Brussels
to our customers,
neighbours
and friends.
Donna & Tim
Prior
and staff
JIM JOHNSTON
CABINETRY
* Kitchen Cabinets
* Vanities
* Wall Units
Blyth
Work
519-525-3639
Home
519-523-9608
44229 Amberley Road west of Molesworth
519-291-4643
www.old86farmersmarket.com
Hours:
Closing Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 at 4 pm
Closed Dec. 25 & 26
Closed Jan. 1
Monday - Saturday 9 am - 6 pm
Sunday 10 am - 5 pm
May you find everything you want
under the tree, and in your heart this
holiday season.
For the gift of your friendship,
we are sincerely grateful.
Wishing You a
Merry
Christmas
We’d like to join you and your family, in singing His praises,
as we share the spirit of this holy season.
BORRMANN'S GARAGE
86924 Brussels Line
RR #1 Bluevale 519-335-3857
Continued from page 29
know that there is plenty to do and
they take the family interaction
wherever they can get it.
Alvin says when the children were
small there was a lot of travelling
involved and by the time Christmas
was over, they had visited several
sets of grandparents and other family
members and everyone was ready to
turn in for the night.
Looking back now they can
appreciate the relaxation that can
come with Christmas and spending
time with their immediate family
around the Christmas tree, rather
than dashing from one household to
the other all day.
When Alvin was younger, he said
he remembers not having stockings,
but that small gifts would be piled at
the family’s dinner table. The gifts
would be placed at their intended
recipient’s place setting at the table.
Presents at the dinner table were
usually things like socks or
underwear or mittens, Alvin says,
and then other presents were always
found under the Christmas tree, in a
more traditional manner.
Alvin’s grandparents lived in
Brussels and would come over for
the day on Christmas Day when he
was young.
Pam also spent Christmas Day
with her grandparents when she was
younger. She said that while it was
always a busy time around the
house, it was always a fun time as
well.
When it comes to gift-giving now,
one other tradition that may be
linked to their Scottish heritage, they
joke, is wrapping presents in
newspaper. The pair has always done
it this way and this year already
there were several presents sitting
under the tree, wrapped in
newspaper waiting for someone to
open them.
Continued from page 24
could been quite severe rather
quickly. Travel has become has
become easier the last number of
years and it hasn’t become quite as
much of a concern. In the past we
were homebound often and weren’t
able to pick up and travel as easily
as you can now since people aren’t
too fearful of it. I can’t remember
the last time we had a very stormy
Christmas season.”
Gowing said that, in reflection,
Christmas is a very important time
of the year for people to remember
to spend time not only with their
friends and families, but on their
own as well.
“Everyone has busy, busy lives,”
he said. “Christmas is when you
should stop and take some time off.
Enjoy the season, enjoy the time
with friends, families and
neighbours and do not let the
business of your life use up your
Christmas season.”
Christmas a
time to slow
down: Gowing
McLellan appreciates relaxing
during the holiday season
Continued from page 32
those gifts under the tree, everyone
gets a number and, in order of the
number you go to the tree and pick a
gift or steal a gift,” he explained. “
We get a really wide range of stuff
right from Tim Horton’s gift
certificates to some really, really
silly but funny gifts. It’s a great
time.”
While the gifts are fun and the
game is exciting, Riach said that the
holidays are really a time to reflect
on who you’re with and how lucky
you are and to remember those who
aren’t so lucky.
“Christmas, really, is a time to
celebrate family and remember the
real meaning of Christmas and also
to remember that there are other
people in the world who are less
fortunate and to support them,” he
said.
Riach says the
holidays are
about family