Our Christmas

It was perfect. We cooked our turkey on Christmas Eve, and had our friends Kevin and Sheryl and Mike over for dinner. Too much food, too much wine but lots of fun. Christmas day started with Marina sleeping until 9am (thank you Santa!). She was thrilled with the kitchen that Santa brought her. Our neighbours Bruce and Betty or - Grandma Betty and Poppa Bruce if you ask Marina, came for Christmas brunch. The day was extremely relaxing. We went to our friends Travis and Lani's for Christmas dinner where we enjoyed the company of about 18 other people it was a nice end to a perfect day. Boxing day consisted of more food, more wine.... and more visiting. We spent the evening with our good friends Steve and Shelly and their kids Jessie and Chiara. Jessie and Chiara had several friends over and Marina was in her glory with the older kids (they are all college age). They showered her with attention! Soon, it is back to reality... less food, less wine. I definately think we will wait until January 2nd for that though.

Happy New Year to you all!

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

Dear Editor:
I am eight years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says " If you see it in The Sun, it's so."
Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O'Hanlon
115 West 95th Street
September 21st, 1897

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there ia a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas, how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not belive in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus coming down, but what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all of the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart a baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernatural beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Merry Christmas to all our cherished friends and family.

Love John, Erin, Marina and Taylor.

Granny

Marina and John are in Victoria spending some time with Granny Jean. Today is her birthday and the visit was a surprise. This post is for you Granny. Happy Birthday and enjoy the time with your special girl...