View from the Cheap Seats is kind of an extension of the newsroom. Whenever our three regular reporters, Calvin Daniels, Thom Barker and Randy Brenzen are in the building together, it is frequently a site of heated debate. This week: What do you want for Christmas.
The October 19 gift that keeps on giving
I vaguely recall a childhood exercise in Catholic school which asked us to say what we wanted for Christmas that wasn鈥檛 a GI Joe or a Barbie, but something non-material. Of course, we were kids, so what we really wanted was a GI Joe or a Barbie, but we got the intent and said something reminiscent of a Miss Universe pageant such as 鈥淲orld Peace.鈥�
Our parents tried to reinforce the lesson, but, of course, most of us did not feel it. Hell, how could we have even known what it even meant being white, privileged, first world children growing up in the 1960s and 1970s.
It was a good exercise, though, because it made us think, however superficially, however briefly, not about our own material gain, but about the bigger picture and others.
I totally get it now, this year more so than I ever have before. There is not one single material thing I want to see under my Christmas tree this year.
Politically, the last ten years, especially the immediately preceding four, have been extremely difficult for me. In my lifetime, there has never been a Canadian government so contrary to my personal values, and what I view as Canadian values, than Stephen Harper鈥檚 Conservatives.
I got every single thing I wanted for Christmas on October 19.
-Thom Barker
Tough question
What do I want for Christmas? No, seriously. What DO I want for Christmas?
It鈥檚 been a question that has plagued me for years upon years and the answer, at least at first, has always been the same: I have absolutely no clue.
I never know what I want for Christmas because I never actually think about it.
Usually I settle on things I need as opposed to things I want. Socks, those expensive Gillette razorblades that are an ungodly price, etcetera.
But when it comes to wants and not needs, well sir, I usually couldn鈥檛 tell you. I strongly feel like I鈥檝e got all I need already. I have a full-time job, a place to live, a loving fianc茅, and an awesome dog. Everything.
So what do I want? Well, more money would be nice. I鈥檇 like to pay off some student loans and the like.
I鈥檇 also like to get a new car. And by new, I mean old. Like, World War Two Jeep style.
One other thing I鈥檇 like to get for Christmas is a new camera lens; one that is actually made for sports photography so I can get even better photos for any articles I attempt to write in the new year.
Lastly, I鈥檇 really like a gold medal for the Canadian Junior Hockey Team at the World Juniors this year. I tend to judge how my year will go on whether or not the Juniors succeed. Last year they did and I had a wonderful year, so let鈥檚 hope it continues!
-Randy Brenzen
鈥楾is the little things
鈥橳is the season they say, and maybe for the first time in my life, and that covers a fair-to-middlin鈥� number of years now, I am getting what the season should be all about.
As a child it鈥檚 all exuberance and sleepless nights waiting for the farm set you asked Santa for after the Christmas catalogues arrived.
As a teen you just become aloof to everything in general and you forget to pause even in December.
Marry, and have kids, and you find the season evolves into one of stress, stretching already tight budgets to get the youngsters the gifts they desire.
After they grow, at least in my case, there was a drop off of interest which almost became Decembers of melancholy. The joy of youth opening presents was gone, and even the cheesy school concerts were not part of life to get one in the mood.
But this year it all seems to fit back together.
Maybe that is the present we receive for turning 55, a gift of understanding the season.
The little things are back to making me feel good about the season.
The first mandarin orange of the season, sweet and juicy.
Coming home to a decorated tree that brightens the room.
Reading a Christmas mystery short each night as carols play as background.
Spending time walking the stores with the better half and picking out gifts together, even for each other.
Somehow in these little things I am enjoying the season, really enjoying deep down inside, for the first time, as I said, maybe ever.
As I write this even the big spruce outside the window, boughs laden with snow, is a simple joy that sparks a smile.
The little things of the season finally have my attention, and I love it, and who really needs to wish for more.
-Randy Brenzen
