It's winter! (Merry Christmas!)

Just a few comments/observations at Christmas... 

E-mail Christmas cards are nice, but when I start getting them from a car dealership, I start to question motivation. These go straight into the trash. That being said, I did put a Christmas card from my local MLA on our fridge. I’m conflicted....

Christmas newsletters used to be a big thing. For the first time that I can remember, my Mom opted for a family "update" that fit on the back of their family Christmas photo. It was about the length of a Tweet (just an observation). 

Speaking of Tweets, Donald Trump recently announced it's okay to say "Merry Christmas" again. That’s right, no more “Happy Holidays!” or as one comedian suggested, “It’s winter!” I can hardly wait to start using this antiquated greeting again (I’ll wait until the end of the blog).

Speaking of individuals accused of sexual misconduct, is "Baby, It's Cold Outside" appropriate to play in the midst of the #MeToo campaign? The duet between the man and the woman appears to be rather non-consensual, shall we say. Perhaps we need to view it through a different lens, seeing as it was written in 1944, but good to have the discussion nonetheless. 

If your Christmas tree continues to drink water, is it still alive? 

We have a sneaking suspicion that our Christmas lights were recalled last year. Apparently they may pose a fire hazard.... it's just so hard to remember what happened from one year to another. 

Speaking of fires, with the lack of conventional fireplaces in homes, how is it that kids still believe in Santa? These are physical limitations that kids don't even want to entertain. Which leads me to believe it's really all about the gifts... 

More evidence of Boxing Day creep: Best Buy began its Boxing Day sale at 6 pm on Christmas Eve. This is just one more incentive to hold off with your Christmas shopping until the very last minute. 

Christmas brings with it a lot of commercialism, but also a lot of goodwill in the form of donations. It's true for myself that the more I spend, the more I'm willing to give. It's really a win-win situation. 

Speaking of giving, the community of Rosthern has a new food bank facility this Christmas (incidentally, the building where I once worked as a roving summer reporter). Starting up a food bank was no small feat, but it’s having a real impact. Over 250 Christmas hampers were distributed this week. Thanks to the many volunteers and businesses that contribute, more families will be able to enjoy this Christmas season.

It’s Winter! Oops, I mean, Merry Christmas!