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Grandma Bee On-Line! My Story:

A month and a day till yet another Christmas Day.  84 of them I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy, most of them not far from here, mild days, even sunny days.  The first three were in Olds, Alberta - no, by golly there must have been one in England somewhere.

Of course, I have no memories of these.  Guess they didn’t impress me!  The first Christmas I remember took place in Vancouver in 1921.  We lived in Sylvia Court which has since become Sylvia Hotel.  I had a brother Donald to share it with though he would be only two years old, before the age of remembrance and now he isn’t around to share with anyway.

Sylvia Court was right on the waterfront at English Bay.  I remember several Christmases at English Bay.  One was so sunny and mild we went for a stroll along Beach Avenue.  There was one or two in Kitsilano and one on 5th Avenue, and another on 64th in South Vancouver.

Let’s pluck that one out of memories hat.  By now I had two brothers and a sister to share the morning Christmas tree activities with, Donald, 13 or so, Joan 9, and Alan around 2 years.

We lined up at the double sliding doors into the living room where the tree was near the fireplace, Alan in front because it was one of his first and we wanted to enjoy his reactions.  The door slid open and we stared transfixed at a splendid tree surrounded by toys.

Alan was silent for a minute then suddenly let our a delighted squeal as he spotted an old toy in the far corner. “Squee, squee!!” he chortled and toddled eagerly towards it.

Well, that memory has come down the years with me. This Christmas in the year 2001 will find me in a brand new condo -new to me- with new and relatively new furniture.  I am pleased as I look around at all this new furniture-rattan sofa and loveseat, handsome coffee table, and my eyes are happy to light on the trolley next to my chair and the lamp down room and the tuner in the corner.  Among all the new things it is good to find something familiar.  It helps this feel like home.

And so it is with all of life.  We go forth into the unknown every year clutching the familiar to us to help us weather whatever lay ahead.

Life has a way of dealing out body blows unexpectedly.  Some of them below the belt.  We cling to the familiar to help us get up off the mat.

This Christmas I hope none of you are down on the mat, but if you are I hope you can reach for something dear and familiar to help you get back on your feet.

The year 2002 stretches before us with goodness knows what adventures and events.  Newborn babies, small triumphs, the first of summer’s roses, new clothes, new sights, lots of good food and 365 sleeps in comfortable beds.

Enjoy it all dear people and have a wonderful Christmas.  I’ll spend part of my day fingering the memories of yesteryear.

-Love, Betty

Betty McLean
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