It is the day before the day before Christmas and all through the house, many people were stirring in an attempt to make the place more finished and cozy before December 25th. On that big day the Richardson’s are hosting the British Columbia contingent of the Canadian ghetto to a celebratory dinner on their terrace.
The folks from Ontario are gathering for their dinner at the home of our new friends from Barrie. Doesn’t that sound just like a microcosm of the Canadian way? Nevertheless we live in the hope that during the holiday the Canadian snowbirds, both francophone and Anglophone will celebrate joyously together buoyed by the fact that we don’t have any politicians to muddy our waters.
About ten days ago we noted a veritable forest of Canadian Christmas Trees displayed prominently in front of three of our local supermarkets. The smell of those trees was wonderful and provoked both nostalgia and homesickness in us both.
That homesickness lasted all of the way to the email we received from the chap who is looking after our house, who mentioned that the temperature in Peachland had plunged to minus 28. Upon reflection we decide that plus 28 and warm sunshine was acceptable, and we returned to our smug selves. Nevertheless we vowed to buy one of those Nova Scotia Balsams to grace our terrace over the holidays.
Alas it was not to be! Shopping in Panama is a little like a Costco experience. If you see something you need or like, buy it immediately because many things are not restocked. On December 21 we sallied forth to pick up our tree but there wasn’t an arbol natural de Navida to be had in our area.
Furthermore it’s not like home where you can go into the woods and chop your own. Palm trees just don’t cut it, even with the coconuts painted in Christmas colours. A cheap Chinese artificial tree now stands shakily in our house, and we suspect that it is full of melamine and heavily leaded paint. Still it somewhat captures the spirit of the season and we shall honour it until January when we’ll break it down to toilet brushes. Next year we’ll shop early.
Within the last few days we took an overnight trip to Panama City to buy more things needed to complete our house. On our return trip in the intrepid Oldsmobile we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies in transit. After all those years of driving junkers it’s kind of neat having an old beater car again.
We now realize that the uncertainty with regard to whether or not you will reach your destination adds to the joy of the trip. Currently we experience uncertainty and joy in roughly equal parts.
Three points emerge from our trip to Panama City. Judging from the crowds of Christmas shoppers the world-wide financial crisis has not yet hit Panama. If it had there would be no need for the Panamanian Government to stimulate the economy given the amount we are spending setting up house. Mavis made a good point when she noted that at least when you set up a new house after divorce; you have a half set of dishes. Still life goes on and it ain’t half bad.
Mavis and Gus
Thanks Mavis and Gus
Enjoy your Winter.
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