The Huron Expositor, 1997-12-24, Page 221 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Docemtsr 24, 1997
Giving is the true meaning of Christmas
By Carolanne Doig
Our family was big and
although our house looked
small from the street, it
stretched out to embrace
many, much as Mom
embraced those who crossed
the doorstep. Spring, sum-
mer, fall or winter - it didn't
seem to make any difference
about the season, we always
had company. There were the
relatives from Scotland,
friends from school. hockey
players and caddies - young
and old - all year round.
At Christmas time the visi-
tors came in a different form.
True were the constant com-
ings and goings of relatives
and friends popping in for
some "anti -freeze" that
included lentil soup, spirits,
and hearty laughter, but it
was the strangers brought to
our door by the local constab-
ulary that made our
Christmas different. You see,
we lived right beside one of
the most treacherous winter
highways in the snowbelt and
I mean, right beside it. Our
front porch was just feet from
the highway and some days
you'd swear the salt trucks
and snow ploughs were com-
ing through the house.
Storms would hit as they do
in the snow belt. Christmas
time was peak season for the
storms. The winds would
howl, the drifts would drift,
and the roads would clog up.
Radios would be tuned in for
the road report - we didn't
need a weather report. We
were in the weather. Even
before the barricades went up
and the cruisers parked, lights
flashing at the outskirts of
town, the first of the storm -
stayed would arrive at the
door. Sometimes they would
arrive alone, directed to us by
some local who knew there
was room at number 98.
Others would arrive escorted
by the police, who apolo-
gized for the inconvenience,
but sighed their relief when
Mom and Dad ushered the
shell shocked travellers into
our rec. room.
We took it all in stride.
After all we were veterans of
this experience. Coffee, tea,
or something stronger would
be served up to warm the vis-
itors and help to calm their
nerves. We understood the
frustration and fear of trying
to make it those last few
miles to loved ones and end-
ing up in a whjrling white
vortex of snow just before
sliding off the road into a
deep ditch. Everyone reacted
differently and you just had
Joyce Green, left. Lamhton Heritage Museum shows Seaforth Public School student Shawn
Reinink. right. helped by teacher Ann Kelly how a Jacob's Ladder toy from 130 years ago
(Fitton photo)
Susan Hewett. Lampton Heritage Museum made cookie ornaments with the students at the
Seaforth Public School when the children took a step hack in time to early Canadian pioneer days
Wednesday. (Fitton photo)
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I.A.M. Group
Division of G.W.
Nobel Sanitation
fern' & Bri,...:. Nobel
Si Family
to make them feel as com-
fortable as possible until the
storm passed and the roads
re -opened.
We would play cards. We'd
play pool. We'd watch televi-
sion. We'd chat. Total
strangers would be in our
midst and yet we carried on
with our own family tradi-
tions and celebrated our
Christmas together as we
would storm or no storm.
Food was never a problem
regardless of the numbers.
The soup might be a bit thin-
ner and Mom might give us
"the look" if we reached for
more turkey, but the trav-
ellers were fed their
Christmas dinner along with
the family. Sometimes we
would share some clothing
especially if the storm lasted
a couple of days. Belongings
were somewhere out there in
the trunk of a car now buried
under mountains of ice and
snow. I always felt sorry for
the Moms in their old travel-
ling clothes, no make up, no
toiletries, celebrating
Christmas with total
strangers. The fathers seemed
to take the delay better and
the kids well they just joined
in the games and didn't seem
to notice that their parents
were hanging on every word
the department of highways
uttered.
One Christmas eve a storm
struck with a vengeance. By
nine that night our house was
haven to half a'dozen people
who had hoped to enjoy a
Huron County Christmas
with their families. As usual
Mom and Dad welcomed the
strangers, nourished them,
and made the sleeping
arrangements. In spite of the
storm there was a festive
atmosphere. Many of the
stranded were philosophical
about their fate and just
happy to he safe and warm
and out of the storm. Our
family was intact so the party
atmosphere continued into
the evening. On the couch in
the rcc. room a couple sat
quietly watching the weather
reports as thcir little boy
questioned them over and
over why they weren't going
to get home for Christmas.
Hc wanted to know if Santa
was stuck in the storm. If
they couldn't get through
how could Santa? Tears came
to his eyes as his Mom
explained that Santa would
leave him his presents and he
would get them once they all
got hack home. We could tell
that Christmas day was going
to he difficult for this young
couple and their little lad.
Over by our Christmas trec,
now surrounded by a mass of
continued on nacre SR
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SATURDAYS TILL 5 P.M. a.
Open
Sat. Dec.27
to 5 p.m.
FURNITUR
Main St. Seaforth 527-068
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a
reefings
the
of Season
We would like to thank
you for your support
over the past year.
Have a wonderful
Christmas and a
Happy New Year.
Fant //rye Carr
522-0900
STUDIO 75
(4174
»
FITNESS IS FUN
Instructor - Sue Hannon
TUESDAYS & FRIDAY MORNINGS
Begin the day the proper way. A great workout to
start your Tuesdays and Fridays.
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. both mornings
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS
Step and Floor Aerobics combined with weight
training - 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Stretching and Strengthening Class with a special
consideration for BACK PROBLEMS - 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.
ALL ABOVE CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT THE
SEAFORTH & DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRES
BEGINNING TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1998
THIS WILL BE A 10 WEEK SESSION AND
FEES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1 Class per week - $40.00
2 Classes per week - $60.00
3 Classes per week - $75.00
CALL 527-0882
FOR REGISTRATION OR INFORMATION
Cruise Wear Fashions Arriving Daily
OPEN SAT., DEC. 27 9 to 5 PM & SUN., DEC. 28 12 to 5 PM