Thoughts and Reflections on Christmas 2011

As I sit down at my computer, sipping a Mojito, my thoughts move to the enjoyable time we had with my family and friends for Christmas dinner in my home. Note that the Mojito is in a fancy pinwheel crystal glass with cranberry and mint ice cubes!

The Mojito mix was a Christmas gift from my BFF Isabelle. She gave me this gift as a reminder of good times had in the Toronto Beaches several summers ago while visiting her daughter Nadine. It was the first time we had tried a Mojito and I guess conditions were right because we almost drank the entire bottle over the hot, lazy afte
oon on the front veranda while watching passersby make their way to Lake Ontario.

Well back to Christmas. This year my family and friends joined me for a day in the country, walking in a winter wonderland and catching up on the latest news. It was great! My youngest son Jason succeeded in passing a difficult real estate exam so that he can become an agent and begin an exciting and lucrative career in an area he has been passionate about for some time.

My other son Tyler just received the good news that he will be receiving tenure (permanent status) at Carleton University in Ottawa starting July 2012. We should hear what’s happening before the end of February whether he is promoted to Associate Professor as well. I’m sure it will be good news as everything points towards success for him so far.

As you can tell, I am genuinely proud of both of them. They are my ultimate accomplishment and although being a parent can be difficult at times, nothing is more rewarding than seeing your children attain success, health and happiness.

We had a sit-down dinner for twelve and here is the menu:

Appetizers

• Baked Brie with Almonds and Apricots
• Italian Tomato and Rosemary Pizzas
• Roasted Red Pepper Hummus with Crudités

Main Dishes

• Romanian Cabbage Rolls (Galosh a tradition in our family)
• Farfalle Salad with Broccoli, Roasted Asparagus, Peppers, Red Onions and Pesto
• Greek Salad with Peppers, Black Olives, Feta, Tomatoes and Zucchini
• Jason’s Deep-dish Tourtière (meat pie)

Desserts

• Linda’s Chocolate, Whipped Cream Trifle
• Maple Cream Fondue with Fresh Fruit and Nut Bread
• Miscellaneous Homemade Cookies and Bars

Makes your mouth water, just reading doesn’t it. And, I can assure you it was absolutely delicious.

But somehow, it wasn’t the food or gifts that made it really special. It was everyone together, my children, their wives Carina and Geneviève and my grandsons Jacob and Timoty, my sister Linda and her daughters Sabrina and Vanessa along with boyfriend Steve (a great guy).

My best friend Isabelle, and her daughter Nadine and hubby Be
ard were unable to join us this year because of the arrival of a lovely new baby girl in their family…Zoë. However Marcel, the proud grandfather, charmed us with his presence.

The same day, my brother Michael and his wife Lyne were busy entertaining so after dinner, we all walked over to wish them a Merry Christmas and share good times.

It was the first year everyone had brought along something to make the preparation easier for me since I was working up to the last minute. My sons are great cooks…thanks to me! Meanwhile, everyone participated by helping out in the kitchen, serving drinks, setting the table, cleaning up and keeping the conversation interesting and laughter flowing.

I feel exceptionally blessed to belong to such a great family where everyone gets along beautifully and truly has a genuine interest in each other’s well-being. Yes, we all still have some problems and trying experiences to go through; but this Christmas, we let go the stress of everyday living and truly enjoyed each other’s company.

Christmas is supposed to be fun…and it was!

May beautiful moments and happy memories surround you with joy this holiday season and always.