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Features
January 1, 2004
Take a deep breath...Slowly exhale...Relax...Feel
better? I hope so, because now that the 'Holiday'
madness is over, we should all be kicking back
a bit more and allowing our brains time to rest
and rejuvenate. I don't know about you, but
for me the weeks leading up to Christmas are
so crazy with frantic activity that they only
register as a blurred memory. There is so much
to do and so little time in which to do it...unless,
of course, you're the type who does the Christmas
shopping in July and has the tree up and decorated
on the first of November. I know people like
that, and on the twenty-third of December when
I'm dragging my aching bones around a mall searching
for gifts, I envy them (and hate them); but
frankly, there is no way I can even think about
Christmas before December.
It would all be so much easier, (not to mention
enjoyable), if we did not have to worry about
buying gifts. That's really what puts pressure
on people, all kinds of pressure, especially
financial pressures. I know loads of people
who'll spend the next several months trying
to get out of the hole they've put themselves
in because of Christmas spending. Is it worth
it? I don't think so. Judging from the weary
expressions I've seen on many faces this Christmas
I'd say many would be perfectly happy to see
Christmas cancelled...forever. That would be
a shame, because there is so much about it that
is truly wonderful. And, please don't misunderstand
me about gifting. I'm all for making sure there's
something under the tree for the kids at Christmas.
All I'm saying is...do we need to be stressing
ourselves by trying to get yet another necktie
or box of chocolates for people who might be
just as happy with a Christmas visit or telephone
call?
For me, the best part of Christmas is being
able to get together with family and friends
to enjoy each other's company over a glass of
wine and something to eat. It's something that
never fails to make me feel good. What could
be better than sharing a story or a laugh with
someone you're close to? I think that's the
best gift I could ever receive. And, even better,
it won't put you in the poor house. My favorite
character in Dickens', A Christmas Carol, is
the jolly old Mr. Fezziwig. He had the right
idea about celebrating Christmas. He would spend
a relatively small amount of money on some food
and drink and give his kith and kin a wonderful
party to enjoy and remember. Scrooge certainly
had fond memories of the Christmas parties at
Fezziwig's, from his years working as an apprentice
for the kind old fellow.
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Fezziwig's Party
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Speaking of Dickens and things I enjoy about
the season; once again this year I was very
pleased to take part in the CBC Christmas Carol
at Gower Street United Church in St. John's.
Many CBC colleagues from radio and television
read with me. It was performed before a capacity
audience of nine hundred people, and was, according
to audience members who joined us in the basement
afterward for coffee and tea, the most wonderful
evening so far. We've been doing these productions
for about five years and each year they just
seem to get better and better. This year we
were joined by Rex Murphy who gave a wonderful
reading, highlighted by Dickens' description
of the Cratchit Christmas dinner.
Another highlight was the performance by Cantus
Vocum, a choir of about twenty men and women
who sing like angels. This group was started
by and is still directed by Chad Stride.
They have performed in Europe, and this summer
they'll be heading back there to perform in
Italy. If you're interested in hearing them,
they have a couple of CD's in release, including
a Christmas CD that might make a nice addition
to your Christmas collection for next year.
For more information you can call Chad. He's
in the St. John's phone book.
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Karl reads Dickens,
(D. Minty photo)
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Of course, the ultimate reward for all of the
people involved in the CBC Christmas Carol,
including myself, was the knowledge that the
evening resulted in a donation of nine thousand
dollars to the Community Food Sharing Association.
As Eg Walters, the manager of the association
said, it meant his organization would be able
to provide hundreds of needy families with the
ingredients for a fine Christmas dinner.
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Cantus Vocum making
glorious music,
(D. Minty photo)
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Appreciative audience
at post 'Carol' reception,
(D. Minty photo)
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I was reminded recently that it is not just
at this time of the year when the poor need
our help. They, like the rest of us, need proper
nutrition every day of the year. Thank God there
are people out there looking after them on a
regular basis. For example, every week a group
of wonderful people get together in the basement
of George Street United Church to prepare a
meal for clients of the church's Soup Kitchen.
The kitchen had its genesis about a year or
so ago after a couple of key decisions were
taken.
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Soup Kitchen benefactor,
Kathy LeGrow
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First, the church, under the leadership of
the Reverend Wayne Cole, changed its mission
to one of outreach, especially to the poor and
needy of downtown St. John's. Then, St. John's
business woman and philanthropist, Kathy LeGrow,
approached the church with a desire to create
a meaningful memorial for her late brother,
Jimmy Pratt, who was a member of the George
Street congregation. The result was an extremely
generous donation of fifty-thousand dollars
to build a new kitchen for the church that would
enable them to feed large numbers of people
as per Dept. of Health regulations.
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George Street United
Church, St. John's
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Ever since, the kitchen has been serving a
hot meal every week to as many as forty to sixty
needy people. It is moving to read some of the
very touching notes left by clients of the kitchen
that have been posted on the kitchen's bulletin
board. They indicate very clearly that the efforts
to help them are much appreciated. And more
will be done for them starting this month. The
church has decided to provide its soup kitchen
clients with a space where they can access computers
and instructional materials on video to help
them acquire better life skills. 2004 holds
promise for the downtown poor as a result of
the efforts of some generous souls. Congratulations
to all concerned with this worthy cause.
Seeing that number...2004, is almost too hard
to believe. How is it possible the years fly
by so quickly? Wasn't it just a short time ago
that we were talking about the coming new millenium?
The quick passage of time can be a bit depressing
for some of us. However, one thing that cheers
me up is the continued presence among working
entertainers of people I enjoyed when I was
a youngster.
It's a bit pathetic, I know, but it makes me
feel young when there are folks still chugging
away out there who are old enough to be MY parents.
(You have no idea how bad I felt in 2003 when
Bob Hope finally 'kicked the bucket'.) Anyway,
recently I had the pleasure of meeting, having
a coffee with, and interviewing Nana Mouskouri,
the internationally famous singer from Athens,
Greece. She told me she is 69 years old and
has no intention of giving up her career...Thanks
be to God. I can still feel like a youngster.
That's the spirit Nana! You go girl!
Seriously, she is a fascinating person. She
told me she sings for therapy as much as anything.
Even today, she is haunted by memories from
her youth of the Greek Civil War,
It was a horrible period when she saw Greek
killing Greek, and cousins, brothers and sisters
turning against one another. But her songs and
their message of love help her to keep those
bad memories at bay. I'm convinced she is completely
sincere in what she says and having enjoyed
her concert at Mile One Stadium, I hope she
continues performing for a long time to come.
One final, gossipy observation about Nana Mouskouri...she
smells terrific. I don't know what scent she
wears, maybe it's something especially made
for her. No doubt, with homes in Geneva and
Paris, she can afford some very expensive perfumes.
At any rate, I was hypnotized by her wonderful
aroma, both comforting and inviting. Couple
that with those dark, mysterious, and magnetic
eyes behind her trademark frames, and I was
hers. Yes, it was a nice way to end 2003. Let's
hope 2004 creates similar memories. Happy New
Year everyone!
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