For the first time in my 57 years on this planet, my family has not gathered together for Christmas — yet. There are plans to do so in January. But that seems like a long way away.
For me, it’s meant a less than festive feeling this festive season.
There are good reasons for it. My eldest brother is in the hospital; he’s been there since Nov. 11 and, for various reasons, he won’t be coming home. Rather, he will require a facility with a greater level of care that can meet his needs. It’s a sad realization that has landed with a thud whose reverberations continue to echo.
On top of that, my trusty Husky, Marshall, tore his ACL in the fall. He had surgery on Oct. 28 and is, finally, nearing the end of what will be three months of recuperation and down time. Because of that, I had to, essentially, close my home to visitors — especially kids and pets.
Since my home is the family gathering spot, it put a kibosh on both Thanksgiving and Christmas plans. In a word, it's dispiriting.
December has also become a less-than-favourite month for our family in recent years; on Dec. 8, 2020, my dear mom died. So this month already has a pall upon it.
Because of all that, the Christmas tree was late going up this year. The decorations around the home are mostly in place, but I just couldn’t bother with some of it.
The Christmas CDs are on repeat and I’ve already watched It’s a Wonderful Life and Elf, among other movies meant to cultivate the spirit of the season. For the most part, it hasn’t worked. I’m just not feeling it.
I try to remain positive. After all, many people will tell you aging is a privilege and I know that to be true. But it can also carry a great weight and lead to challenges that are difficult to navigate.
Thankfully, however, a 15-month-old has helped rescue the season and remind me what Christmas is all about.
A few weeks ago, I went with my daughter and grandson to a Christmas market in Oro-Medonte where Henry met Santa Claus for the first time. After seeing that jolly face in books and on TV, he was in awe. Truly.
After he had sat on Santa’s lap and chatted with the Jolly Old Elf for a few minutes, we moved on. But Henry did not ... he kept saying ‘more’ and enjoyed a second visit. If not for Santa's growing popularity evidenced by a long lineup, I'm sure he would have loved a third
While Santa was a hit, it’s the Grinch who is the star of Christmas for Henry this year; he is obsessed with the grumpy, green Christmas hater. He can’t get enough of the kids’ version of the movie and it will likely be long remembered that ‘Grinch’ was one of his first words.
It is also a joy to see him rapt, watching a little train chug around the North Pole of our illuminated train station or to watch him ogle the colourful ornaments on the tree; he has 'repositioned' several.
He is not yet interested in gifts; they have no real meaning to him. But he can already understand that something special is happening, that there is a different feeling in the air, that joy is the currency of the season.
I’m so thankful Henry was able to salvage Christmas this year and I can say with confidence that he will do so for many years to come.
Dave Dawson is the editor of OrilliaMatters and oversees the editorial team of the eight Village Media sites in Simcoe County and York Region.
