Dreaming of a White Christmas

 

By: Misty Murph'Ariens

 

When the holiday season rolls around, many things come to my mind. Some are expectations. Glittering snow, the smell of pine, the taste of clementines. Some are memories. December evenings spent with my mom sipping liqueur in front of a cheerful fire in the fireplace, the living room lit with a thousand twinkle lights, Christmas jazz playing quietly in the background. Lately, what comes to mind are fond wishes. You see, I am an incurable nostalgic sort, and I think Christmas should be all about family, tradition and good cheer. My idea of Christmas is making hand-crafted gifts for loved ones (which I do), wrapping them up in brown paper stamped with potato stamps (sometimes), carolling neighbour to neighbour with a thermos of homemade eggnog and dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh. In truth, we did go carolling one year, but hardly anyone was home, it was bitter cold and it got dark long before we could make all the rounds. The sleigh ride may seem a far-off hope, but we actually have the horse and sleigh. Alas, we rarely have the snow needed to sleigh by Christmas, and those diligent plough-drivers have the road cleared and sanded before you can get your pony out for a trot. Every year I try to turn a blind eye to the ever-accelerating consumerism surrounding the holiday and bring it back to what it once was—a time to slow down and indulge in the sweeter things life has to offer—warmth, good company, cheerful song and delicious food. When I lived in a big house in the city, I threw a fancy dinner party every year that Martha Stewart could be proud of. The only anachronism I had to deal with there was the lack of any fancy, Martha-Stewarty-type guests and had to settle with inviting my boyfriend's motley gang of friends. Although they might never have appreciated the themed napkin rings, the fresh floral centrepiece or the name cards, they were a hungry bunch and I got to play a gracious hostess. While I look back to my desire for domestic perfection as a bit more fussy than my new farm girl persona would strive for, I am a caterer at heart, and I love to give people an evening of beauty and gustatory delight. I have missed the glamour of a Christmas supper, but I simply have nowhere to put a dozen guests around a dining table (yet!) . It is unusual for me to ask for anything at all, but this year, I asked Bryce for a special Christmas present. Could we rent a hall and throw a big, fancy Christmas dinner? Anything my heart desires, of course. As before, I have all kinds of ideas about the main course, the dessert and the centrepieces. Now all I need are some guests...That being said, you are hereby invited to join us for our Bavarian Abundance Christmas Supper and Variety Show at the Egremont Optimist Centre in Holstein, Sunday, December 15. Tickets are available at the Holstein General Store, Coffee Cultures in Mount Forest and by reservation (519-313-0403). However you choose to celebrate, may your holiday season be filled with song, laughter and love!