It is that time again! Hidden Halloween wrappers finally all discovered and vacuumed up. The last of the frozen Thanksgiving turkey stewed, and now every store isle is full of Christmas.

It’s here and you better hurry because one, two, three, and you are making New Year promises.

I am older now, a great-gramma and Christmas is calmer.

No, not anywhere near as exciting as shopping for the just right gift, or taking five small children to Eaton’s mall to visit Santa so they could tell him in person how they desperately needed the latest toys advertised on TV.

I loved watching their school Christmas plays, especially the parts where my children played some of the roles. It was all so innocent.

Now it seems children want money cards and their own trip to the mall to shop for themselves. I could never have foreseen these changes.

Today as I bake shortbread to gift my neighbour, I’m remembering past Christmases. Especially the one when I was way behind and still wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve, the children and hubby all fast asleep in bed.

Finally, around eleven I was done. I poured a soda into a glass, put my feet up on the sofa and planned to enjoy the tree lights in the peace and quiet before going to bed.

Suddenly, the phone rang, my girlfriend calling to wish me Merry Christmas. Her four youngsters were up and busy. It was 5 am.

Oh my gosh, no gifts under the tree. I hurriedly and quietly pulled parcels out from everywhere I had hidden them, got them under the tree and hoped the ringing phone had not awakened anyone.

I slipped into bed. Fifteen minutes later a little voice at my ear said “Wake up Mommy, Santa came.”

I have forever thanked my Guardian Angel for that phone call.

Another favorite memory happened when I was nineteen and employed. I had a Christmas savings account and I went shopping for the entire family.

I bought my Dad a  jacket I saw him admire in Sears, my Mom perfume, my little sister a lovely doll and my pesky, eleven-year- old brother a chemistry set.

He went on to become a Chemical Engineer. I take credit for that.

The most wonderful part of it all was the absolute joy I received when I saw their delight.

There is nothing to top the gift of giving.

I wish everyone a wonderful New Year.

Written by Barbara Smith

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