We Are Family

With Christmas as the main event, it seemed like a natural fit to choose “family” as our word of the month for December. Even though COVID continued to make things challenging, the Sisterhood looked forward to the holiday season.

Big Sis was excited that she would not have to cook a Christmas turkey for the first time in recent memory and Middle Sis was madly hunting down N95 masks for their flight to visit family over the holiday. Little Sis was delighted to have four days off from work over Christmas for the first time in many years, and Biscuit was just anticipating Christmas treats and bonding time with her humans.

Things were looking pretty darn good until…. OMICRON, which as we now know turned everything upside down again just in time for Christmas. Despite this Big, Middle and Little Sis were able to pivot and make some new family memories, just maybe not the ones they had anticipated.

Life Is Like a Box of Chocolates

By Middle Sis

One of the last trips we took with mom before she passed away was to visit our brother and his family in Quebec. We enjoyed a lively entertaining time which included a “kitchen party” with our three young nieces in attendance. After the wine started flowing and much fun and laughter, the topic of Christmas came up and among other things there was talk of how much they all enjoyed the Purdy’s chocolates that mom sent them every year. The girls were hilarious, describing how they all had their favourite flavours and how they would jockey to make sure they got the ones they liked. Clearly this was a gift appreciated by everyone in the family.

When we got home I asked mom how this came to be and she explained that our sister-in-law had discovered Purdy’s chocolates on one of their visits to BC. When she told mom that they were not available in Quebec, mom decided to take matters into her own hands and send a big box of chocolates for the family to enjoy every Christmas. She was faithful about sending them every year until her passing.

The first Christmas after mom passed away was very difficult. It seemed everything about Christmas reminded us that she was not there. I had happy memories of helping her send out Christmas cards, shopping to find gifts for grandchildren and great grandchildren and even the annual debate my parents would have over whether or not the Christmas turkey was overcooked.

Amid all the Christmas hustle and bustle that first year after mom’s passing, when I was shopping at our local mall (remember shopping in a mall??) I walked by the Purdy’s store and remembered mom’s annual gift to my brother’s family. On the spot I made the decision to carry on the tradition and went into the store to make my purchase. I’m sure the Purdy’s employee who helped me that day still talks about the strange woman who came into the store asking for a box of chocolates and burst into tears while trying to incoherently explain why she was so upset as she stood at the till paying for the chocolates.

Despite feeling sadness, for the four Christmases since mom has been gone, it has given me great joy to be able to carry on this tradition in her memory and I always look forward to hearing from my brother about how much they enjoyed the chocolates.

This year especially, with all the craziness that OMICRON brought to Christmas, it was wonderful to have this tradition to provide a small bit of normalcy. And this year, in the email I received from our brother, his words crystallized for me why this small thing was and still is so meaningful to me when he wrote “its like she’s still with us.”

Miss you mom…

Charity Begins at Home

By Big Sis

We are usually a small group at Christmas: Big Sis and her family, and Little Sis and her hubby. There are ten of us in all. Over the years our gift giving has evolved from each of us buying for the others, to just giving to the children, to finally pulling names out of a hat and only giving to that person.

But Christmas can be such a stressful time and frankly, the older I get, the more I feel that gift giving seems more like a duty rather than a heartfelt desire to please or surprise someone. I definitely don’t need or want anything and to be truthful, neither does our family circle. We are blessed in so many ways and spending time in each others company is the true joy of Christmas time anyway.

In our part of the world, like everywhere else, we are still battling Covid. We are also dealing with catastrophic environmental issues. The summer saw devastating wildfires, followed by an unprecedented heat wave and finally torrential rains and flooding. There are many who are in dire need.

And now with Omicron once again shattering our plans to be together, I felt that perhaps we should revisit our family gift giving tradition. So I broached the idea that perhaps we would only buy gifts for the grand children…..and consider donating to a charity.

After some logistical tinkering, we decided on the following:

• Every adult would commit to $50 (we are 7 adults for a total of$350)
• Everyone’s name would go into a hat and one name would be drawn
• All of the money would go to the the charity of that person’s choice

And the winner was……Little Sis! Her charity of choice was the Salvation Army.

Did we miss not receiving gifts? Not for a second. Knowing that our money was helping someone in need was more than enough. It was a very meaningful experience for all of us.

In fact, I am working on the idea that perhaps we can increase that amount at the end of this year by contributing monthly installments. If each adult contributes just $20 per month we could amass a considerable amount by the end of the year.

Wait a minute…maybe I’m on to something bigger here. We could specify our charity of choice at the beginning of the year and perhaps invite others to participate on a monthly basis. Projecting into the future we could expand yearly and increase the number of charities. Am I wrong to imagine a possible book deal and an option for an inspirational movie? ( Betty always encouraged us to “dream big”)

Hmmm. Maybe a bit much. People would want tax receipts. Are there potential legal issues? Who would manage the money? Who would choose the charity? Uh… Let’s just keep it small for now. Best to keep it all in the family and take it one Christmas at a time.

A Christmas Miracle

By Biscuit (with some editing assistance from Little Sis)

Hi everyone, Biscuit here. I know its been awhile since you last heard from me, so I thought I would add my two cents on family and Christmas.

There was a time for a while when I didn’t have any family. As best I can remember, I was wandering the streets of a small northern town, when sadly I was picked up by the SPCA. They took me to a large building and I have to say, the accommodations were not that great. I was surrounded by large fences and lots of other barking dogs. It was a scary place, especially at night. Needless to say, I was not happy.

One day, however, my life changed forever, when two strangers came to visit me. We had a great time, and I was really disappointed when they left. Actually, my world turned dark and I fell into a doggie depression. My life had no meaning.

And then a miracle! The day before Christmas, those same two people came back to see me and told me they were taking me to their home. This was the best day of my life! I had a family!

Fast forward to the present day. I have been with my family for close to 10 years now, and life is good. I’ve worked hard to train my humans in the secrets of the dog world, and they have finally pretty much learned the “ins and outs.” I am treated with the respect that I deserve and in turn I give them the occasional snuggle. We have an understanding.

Frankly, I didn’t think that life could get any better. Then I met Big Sis’ grandkids. They are two young boys, and one girl who have the most energy I have ever seen. They are so much fun to be with. We go on walks, play catch, and ask my owners if I can have a treat. When I see them to be honest, they totally spoil me. My family circle has grown.

This year, our family had plans to visit Big Sis and her grandkids on Christmas day but as COVID would have it we decided it best to stay at home, I was sad, but I got over it eventually. My humans had gifts for the grandkids, so they made a short visit without me. (I was fine with this. I ate and drank too much over the holidays and had a raging headache.)

When my owners got home they told me that Big Sis’ grandkids had a gift for me. I couldn’t believe it! There was a catch, however. I couldn’t see it until I went for a bathroom break. (I totally understood because I have to admit I am prone to the occasional urinary mishap whenever I get excited.)

When we returned, I went to my room and was greeted by the best surprise ever! I could not believe my eyes! There was a brand new dog dish sitting there for me. It was one of those combo ones where they have the food and the water in the same dish. Let me tell you, this is living. It was so cool for me, and yes it’s true, Biscuit there really is a Santa Claus.

Here’s the best part. Not only did I get a new dish, but I realized that I had three more people in my life who love me as much as I love them. I am one content canine.

And in case you are wondering how Christmas turned out for the Sisterhood:

• Big Sis did end up cooking a turkey for Christmas dinner, but swears this is absolutely the last year.
• Middle Sis did manage to track down some N95 masks, but cancelled their flight. She vows to celebrate Christmas when OMICRON is over with, even if it is July.
• Little Sis did enjoy four glorious days off, albeit without being able to visit family, but able to catch up on all the episodes of Law and Order.
• Biscuit suffered from overindulging in the Christmas treats department but shared many happy bonding moments with her humans.

All that really matters though, is that “We Are Family” and Betty Would Love That!