It was a month before Christmas and all through the house computers were quiet, not even moved by a hard-working mouse.
The laptop screen said to call James to get me back and working online, I grumbled, called him some names, wishing the police could give him a fine.
To make matters worse, a few days later, the friendly credit card man called to tell me that all my plans for Christmas shopping were suddenly stalled.
But determined that this Grinchy James would not keep us in a funk, I went to the Christmas boxes and sorted through stuff some would call junk.
I found boxes of cards that said “Christmas,” some ribbons and bows, Gifts bought last year, now I wonder to whom those were supposed to go?
Gradually the Christmas season began to permeate this old house as we vowed and swore not to give in to James, the festive-stealing louse.
To get the computers working, all it took was a call to our IT man Brett, who worked his magic, all foreign to us, but when he left we were all re-set.
Housemate could now produce our annual cheery Christmas letter, in it expressing the hope that next year our tech-savviness would be better.
As November ended and December took over the calendar page, it became evident there were too many events for people our age.
But somehow we attended quite a few and the days seemed to fly by, bringing us to a few days before anticipated visits from the family’s small fry.
There will be singing and laughter and maybe a slice of turkey or ham, all sorts of frivolity to take our minds off that pre-Christmas computer scam.
We will think good thoughts, sending Christmas wishes there and here, Merry Christmas to one and all, wishing dear readers, a day of good cheer.
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With only a few days remaining until Christmas Day, there is still much to do and think about before that day arrives: Will everyone be satisfied with this year’s choices of presents and how will they hide their disappointment if we missed the mark in our selections? Should we rush out and try to find something different and then second guess ourselves about the alternative choice?
Will there be enough baking to share among family members, bearing in mind most don’t like Christmas cake so cookies and slices will have to be substituted to make the plates look equal.
Did shaking the dust out of last year’s Christmas wreath make it look just like brand new or should I make a run to the store to buy a new one? And will anyone really notice the difference, or care?
The Christmas CDs have been brought out and at intervals are played again and again, and once more just in case a favourite song was missed in the sequence.
It is such fun waiting for Housemate to return from his trips to the postal box around the corner. Did so-and-so send us a card this year or did one more of our friends reduce their list, knocking us to the dust. There’s still a bit of room on the card lines strung across the back of the cupboards. Maybe I should have saved some from last year to fill in the empty spots! It is so nice to receive cards and letters from friends and family we don’t see very often. And we appreciate the cards from everyone we see regularly as well.
The Christmas nativity scene at the church across the street is in its regular place, awaiting the placement of the doll representing the Christ Child. The star shines brightly atop the stable and gives a warm feeling when we look out the window and see it glowing in the darkness of the late evening and early morning.
And so, the days will pass and it will be time to join with others in expressing the very best wishes for a Merry Christmas.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
