Hello once again Bonnyville, with this being a special time of the year for everybody, I figured there was really only one topic I could realistically talk about this close to Christmas, and that is, well, Christmas!
Since I'm set to celebrate my 23rd birthday not too long after the New Year, one would think the ‘magic of Christmas' and all the excitement that comes along with that would have been lost on me quite some time ago, but fortunately for me that isn't the case.
Traditionally, Christmases back in the United Kingdom were spent at my grandparent's house with my close family. We would do the usual waking up at 5 a.m. to open our presents, before spending the rest of the day playing, and eating, playing some more and then eating even more. It has only just occurred to me over the past few years though that, at the risk of amusing my younger self, it wasn't the gifts or the presents that were important, it's the time spent with family.
Since I moved to Canada six years ago, I have become accustomed to seeing my family once a year, if I'm lucky. For the past few years, Christmas has still been celebrated at my grandparent's place, only this time in Ontario, and once again this year, my mother, brother and sister have made the journey from Manchester so that we, as a family, are still able to spend Christmas together.
I will be travelling back to Ontario at midnight on Christmas Eve so that I can celebrate Christmas with them. I've bought many gifts, and in the past whenever anybody has asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I've pulled out this huge list, home to a number of extravagant and usually expensive items. This year though, it's been different. There's nothing I really want, or need for Christmas. At the risk of sounding like the stereotypical, cliché, Christmas saddo, this year I'll have everything I need. I've had everything I've needed all along – a loving family with whom I can enjoy and appreciate this special time of the year.
For those of you travelling home, or indeed for all you Bonnyvillians, I hope you're all lucky enough to be able to spend time with your families over the Christmas holidays – that is after all, the biggest and best gift one can hope for. Enjoy your Christmas, Bonnyville.
