RTHS Christmas Party – December, 2020 via ZOOM
Our annual Christmas “party” (although ZOOM get-together might be a more accurate description) took place on Wednesday December 16th with about 25 people signing in for the virtual meeting.
Susan McKellar began by welcoming all who were able to attend. She then thanked those who were stepping down from their posts for their hard and dedicated work over many years - Ron Wilson as our Newsletter editor, Webmaster and book editor, Brian and Pat Earl as Dickinson House representatives, and Dorothy Gray as Program director. She also thanked everyone else for their work and support in various areas during the past challenging year and going forth in the months ahead. We would be remiss if we didn’t also thank Susan for the many hours of dedication she has contributed particularly during this challenging year. A slate of officers for the coming year will be presented at the AGM in January.
We began with some of our members sharing some favourite Xmas mementos, memories and talents. Dorothy Gray read “Twas the Night Before Christmas - 2020” which of course related how Santa visited in a sterile and sanitized environment as he made his rounds. His final message as he drove out of sight was “Merry Christmas to all – and we’ll all be alright” – hope springs eternal for a return to normalcy.
We were then treated to a lovely medley of songs with Pat Earl on the piano and Brian accompanying on the trumpet. First came O Come All Ye Faithful, followed by I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas. Brian related how this song was very special to them as it was the song that was playing back in 1963 at the Royal Military College Christmas Ball when Brian asked Pat to wear his college pin, apparently equivalent to a proposal. She said yes! and the rest is history so to speak. Their last song was Till We Meet Again, which he suggested could be a theme song for RTHS, especially this year!
Dennis Osmond followed this up by showing a favorite Christmas memento - a cardboard “Father Christmas” which hearkened back to Victorian times in England. The cutout has survived 3 generations in his family, with the 4th and 5th generations waiting in the wings. He pointed out the Christmas tree (used as a walking stick) and the various toys in his sack, including a sailboat, baby doll and bugle along with 2 puppets tucked into the palm of his hand and a holly bush with 2 robins in it. This Father Christmas had a kind and gentle demeanor which, as Dennis described, embodies the true spirit of Christmas.
Jane Anderson had a ceramic Christmas tree which was very popular in the 70’s era. This particular one was obtained in 1973, and commemorates her and Ed’s first year in their home on Bridge Street in Manotick. It has endured the test of time, and a replenished light bulb ensures it will be glowing for many years to come.
Maureen showed one of the popular handcrafted Christmas spider ornaments which were sold in their gift shop this year. She read the “Legend of the Christmas Spider”, a folk story from Germany and the Ukraine which recounts the charming story of a group of household spiders and how their desire to see all the pretty ornaments on the family Christmas tree led to the tradition of hanging tinsel on Christmas trees.
Bill Tupper then recounted a treasured memory of a Christmas spent in Spain back in 1966 with his young family travelling and living in a Volkswagen van. Crossing over the Pyrenees to Barcelona was an adventure in itself due to the presence of 8 feet of snow and a precarious road. They stayed in a campsite on December 24th and Georgie decorated a branch of a palm tree - Christmas trees don’t have to be fir or pine! They spent some time on the beach and planned to go to a bull fight that afternoon but got the times wrong and joined the crowd as they were leaving the arena. A missed opportunity! On December 28th they went to Almaden where they were to go to visit a mercury mine the next day. Georgie was surprised to see a man on a mule peeking in the window of the van watching her getting dressed. What a memorable adventure they had that year!
Sue Gibson showed us some chenille (pipecleaner) Santas which once hung from hubby Dave’s grandparents’ tabletop Christmas tree. After doing some research she found that they were made in occupied Japan after the Second World War between 1945 and 1952. She also showed decorations made by her sons at school (a paper candy cane and a spoon Santa) which have also stood the test of time and bring back fond memories of Christmases past - no doubt we all have some of these treasures packed away in our Christmas boxes.
We were then treated to some wonderful entertainment from our guest, Chris Rodgers, who sang and played the guitar for some favourite Xmas songs and golden oldies. After a minor technical glitch, transmission was restored, and we all settled down for a lovely ‘concert’. He began with The First Nowell, followed by Must Be Christmas Tonight and Angels We Have Heard On High. Gordon Lightfoot entered the mix with the song Song for a Winter’s Night, which includes the lyric, “I Could Only Have You Near” (don’t we all wish that this year?!), and next Ghost Ch ris Rodgers -Our Christmas Minstrel Riders In the Sky for his buddy Jack. He paid homage to Easterners Bill & Georgie Tupper and Mary Jane Maffini with the classic Farewell to Nova Scotia.
Then it was back to Christmas music with The Little Drummer Boy (I think I heard son Cameron jump in on some of the Rum Pa Pum Pums), & Silent Night (always an inspiring addition to any Xmas repertoire). At this point Chris invited us all to join hands with anyone near at hand or virtually with those near and far as he closed with Auld Lang Syne and Away In a Manger. Thank you, Chris, for your gift of music which never fails to lift our spirits and restore our hope.
This brought the end to a wonderful night of camaraderie as we wished each other a “Merry Christmas” and signed off.